By joshua Gegu Advocates Host Community Inclusion in Mining Licensing, Urges African Nations to Adopt Ododo’s Model
The Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Hon. Engr. Abubakar Bashiru Gegu, has called on African governments to prioritise host community participation in mining licensing and mineral resource governance.
He advocated the adoption of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s community inclusion strategy as a model for responsible and sustainable mining development across the continent.
Gegu made the call against the backdrop of the African Minerals Policy Forum – Mining in Motion Summit 2026, holding in Accra, Ghana, from October 19 to 21, under the theme, “One Continent. One Voice on Minerals. Aligning Africa’s Mineral Future.”
The summit brings together policymakers, mining regulators, investors, industry leaders and development partners to deliberate on Africa’s mineral resources, responsible investment, local value addition and sustainable economic development.
The Commissioner stressed the need for African countries to move beyond policies that focus primarily on mineral extraction and government revenue.
He argued that host communities must become active participants and beneficiaries of mining activities within their territories.
He advocated a community-centred approach to mining governance, drawing attention to the strategy being pursued by Governor Ododo’s administration in Kogi State, which places emphasis on youth empowerment, community participation, responsible mining and local economic development.
According to him, meaningful inclusion of host communities in mining-related decisions would strengthen public confidence, reduce conflicts, protect livelihoods and ensure that mineral wealth translates into tangible socio-economic benefits for the people.
Under Governor Ododo’s leadership, Kogi State has intensified efforts to formalise mining activities, tackle illegal mining and create economic opportunities for young people across its 21 local government areas.
The administration has also promoted community-based mining cooperatives as a pathway for youth participation, employment generation, wealth creation and the development of local enterprises within mineral-producing communities.
Gegu maintained that Africa’s mineral development agenda must give greater consideration to the interests of communities whose lands and livelihoods are directly affected by mining operations.
He consequently urged African policymakers to consider adapting Kogi State’s emerging community inclusion approach to strengthen local participation in mineral resource management, encourage responsible investment and ensure a more equitable distribution of mining benefits.
The proposed approach, he noted, would also support the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, strengthen environmental safeguards and create opportunities for local businesses and young people to participate in the mineral value chain.
These priorities align with the broader objectives of the Mining in Motion Summit, particularly its emphasis on continental cooperation, local mineral processing, industrialisation and the implementation of the African Mining Vision.
With Africa increasingly seeking to maximise the economic potential of its abundant mineral resources, Gegu’s advocacy underscores the importance of ensuring that mining investments deliver measurable improvements in the lives of citizens, particularly those in resource-bearing communities.
His position further reinforces the argument that the success of Africa’s mining sector should not be measured solely by production volumes, export earnings or foreign investment, but equally by employment opportunities, improved livelihoods, environmental sustainability and community development.
As deliberations continue in Accra, the Kogi Commissioner’s call places host community inclusion at the centre of the conversation on Africa’s mineral sovereignty, economic transformation and sustainable development.
The central message of his advocacy is clear: Africa’s mineral wealth must not only generate prosperity for governments and investors but also create lasting economic opportunities for the communities from which those resources are extracted.