Only technology, innovation will unlock Africa’s mineral wealth- Fatunbi
…Calls for the creation of a national mineral development agency
A Nigerian mineral exploration expert, Tolulope Fatunbi, has said that technology-driven exploration and transparent governance will play a decisive role in transforming Africa’s mineral wealth into long-term prosperity.
Fatunbi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Dorogis Limited, said Africa stands at the threshold of an industrial and environmental transformation if it can leverage innovation to add value to its abundant mineral resources.
“This is not merely an opportunity,” he told BusinessDay.
“It is a historic duty to reshape Africa’s economic path while contributing to solving a global crisis.”
According to him, the continent holds some of the world’s most strategic minerals — including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements — which are vital for electric vehicles, renewable energy, defence, and digital technology.
Fatunbi, described as a mineraltech solutions architect, said his company integrates artificial intelligence (AI), drone systems, and mineral economics to model deposits with precision and efficiency.
“We’re using AI and machine learning to model mineral systems, drones to capture airborne geophysics, and satellite data to predict new deposits,” he explained.
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“Africa must harness technology to unlock the true value of its mineral base.”
He called for the creation of a National Critical Minerals Development Agency (NCMDA) to coordinate digitised geological mapping, strategic data collection, and value-chain integration for Nigeria’s mining sector.
“Until we pair Nigeria’s geology with the tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, our resources will remain geological trivia rather than economic leverage,” he said.
Fatunbi also proposed the establishment of Rare Earth Elements (REE) and High Purity Quartz (HPQ) processing zones across Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ogun, Kwara, Cross River, Plateau, and Kogi States.
“China’s dominance doesn’t come from having the most minerals,” he noted. “It comes from refining them better than anyone else.”
He argued that local mineral processing, renewable energy integration, and responsible governance could make mining a cornerstone of industrial growth and rural empowerment.
“A mine that powers its host community earns both social licence and national value,” he said.
To sustain long-term growth, Fatunbi urged the Federal Government to adopt a Strategic Minerals Export Control Policy to discourage the export of raw minerals and encourage domestic refining.
“We can no longer afford to export our advantage,” he said. “Local processing must be incentivised through policy, not left to chance.”
He further highlighted the importance of investing in talent and diaspora collaboration through partnerships with global institutions such as the University of Toronto’s Lassonde Institute.
“Technology and deposits mean little without people who can interpret and transform them,” he added.
Fatunbi maintained that Africa’s mineral revolution must be anchored in accountability, sustainability, and innovation, insisting that the continent must become a model for responsible mining and ethical resource development.
“Our challenge,” he concluded, “is to turn geological potential into generational prosperity.”
