The Executive Director of Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, has been invited to lead a roundtable conversation at the Shanghai Metals Expo 2026 in China, scheduled for November. The expo, organised by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), will bring together industry experts to discuss the future of global metals pricing. Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji's speech will focus on Africa's role in the global solid minerals valuation and pricing. Her participation aims to drive the African perspective on the global stage.
The roundtable discussion, titled "Eastern Pricing 2.0: Integrating Futures, Physical Markets, Industry and Finance for the Next Stage of Global Metals Pricing," will examine the evolving landscape of global metals markets. Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji stated that Africa needs to move beyond celebrating its mineral endowment and focus on building market intelligence, processing capacity, and commercial infrastructure. This will enable the continent to participate meaningfully in determining the value of its minerals and metals. The conversation is particularly significant as global competition intensifies around critical minerals.
The emergence of new centres for metals trading, processing, manufacturing, and price discovery has created an opportunity for African governments, industry, producers, and institutions to reassess the continent's position within global mineral markets. According to Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji, Africa cannot build pricing power solely by having minerals; it must develop its mineral ecosystem, including producers, geological and market data, processing capacity, standards, laboratories, commodity exchanges, financial institutions, and regional value chains.
The discussion is crucial as the global competition for critical minerals such as copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths intensifies. These minerals are essential for industrialisation and the energy transition. Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji emphasised that WiM-Africa will continue to advocate for Africa's participation across the entire chain of data, processing, markets, finance, and value creation. This will enable the continent to become more relevant in the markets where value is determined.
The Shanghai Metals Expo 2026 will provide a platform for Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji to share her insights and expertise on global metals pricing. Her participation is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of Africa's role in the global mineral market. The expo will bring together industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the future of global metals markets.
Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji's speech will raise fundamental strategic questions about Africa's influence in determining the value of its mineral resources. She will highlight the need for Africa to develop its collective market intelligence, processing capacity, and commercial infrastructure. This will enable the continent to participate meaningfully in global metals pricing and create value from its mineral resources.
The conversation on global metals pricing is particularly significant for Nigeria, which is rich in mineral resources. The country's participation in the Shanghai Metals Expo 2026 will provide an opportunity for Nigerian stakeholders to engage with global industry experts and policymakers. Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji's participation will help to promote Nigeria's interests and contribute to the country's economic development.
Key points
- Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji to lead a roundtable conversation at the Shanghai Metals Expo 2026 on global metals pricing.
- Africa needs to develop its mineral ecosystem to build pricing power.
- The conversation on global metals pricing is crucial as global competition intensifies around critical minerals.
