THUR JULY 30 2026-theGBJournal| Nigeria is rolling out a grant programme to accelerate mineral exploration and research, as the government seeks to unlock an estimated ₦700 billion solid minerals sector and support its ambition of building a $1 trillion economy through increased mining investment and domestic value addition.
The Federal Government will begin accepting applications on August 3 for its Early-Stage Mineral Exploration & Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE), a funding initiative designed to de-risk mineral exploration and expand geological data to attract private investment into Nigeria’s mining sector.
Administered through the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), the programme will provide grants covering up to 70% of eligible exploration costs for non-producing, early-stage mining companies, including those targeting critical minerals.
Eligible applicants must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), hold valid Mining Cadastre licences, possess credible geological data and maintain qualified technical teams.
The scheme will also fund up to 100% of eligible costs for accredited Nigerian university departments and research institutions conducting geoscience and mining-related research, strengthening the country’s technical capacity and mineral resource knowledge.
EMERGE is a key pillar of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development’s seven-point agenda, aimed at generating high-quality geological data, advancing mineral processing and moving projects from early-stage exploration to investment-ready assets.
The government said the initiative is intended to bridge the gap between Nigeria’s untapped mineral potential and commercial development, while promoting domestic value addition and supporting the industrialisation objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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