Kaduna State drew global attention at the weekend as it launched a $150 million Green Mining Investment Fund during the first-ever African G20 Summit. The state immediately assigned international advisory firm Core International to structure, capitalise, and prepare the Fund for deployment by the end of Q1 2026. The ceremony was witnessed by Governor Uba Sani, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, marking a major step in Kaduna’s drive to become Nigeria’s hub for clean-energy mineral investment.
The new Fund aims to tackle one of Nigeria’s biggest mining challenges: access to early-stage, risk-tolerant financing. It is designed as a private-sector-driven platform that will co-fund exploration drilling and project preparation for key minerals in Kaduna, including Lithium, Rare Earth Elements, and Gold. These minerals are crucial to the global shift toward clean energy technologies, making the state’s move both timely and strategic.
Holding the signing ceremony in Johannesburg aligned with global conversations at the G20, where leaders focused heavily on critical minerals and sustainable development. Kaduna used the platform to signal that Nigeria intends to compete seriously in the international minerals market.
KMDC Managing Director, Engr. Shuaibu Kabir Bello, described the initiative as a major breakthrough, saying, “This Fund is the mechanism that moves Kaduna from potential to real value. We’re not just inviting investors, we’re sharing the exploration risk. This is the new investment standard for Nigeria.”
Core International’s Managing Partner, Suleiman Zakari, added that the partnership provides confidence for global financiers. “Our mission is simple—build a world-class Fund that deploys capital transparently and de-risks Kaduna’s exploration assets. This is a secure bridge for global capital.”
The Fund forms the final phase of Governor Uba Sani’s State Exploration Acceleration Programme, which also includes detailed geodata and upgraded infrastructure. These efforts are positioning Kaduna as one of Nigeria’s most exploration-ready and investor-friendly mining regions, while strengthening its role in the global critical minerals sector.
