US Tariffs A ‘Blessing In Disguise’ For Africa, Says Minister Dele Alake.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has described the recent wave of tariffs imposed by the United States as a potential “blessing in disguise” for African nations, urging the continent to seize the opportunity to rethink its economic strategy.
Speaking during a Fireside Chat session titled *‘The Alchemy of Foreign Direct Investment: Turning Policies into Prosperity for Emerging Global Markets’* at the 14th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Alake encouraged African countries to embrace more self-reliant and inward-looking economic policies.
According to a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the Minister’s comments were made in the context of growing global economic tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs affecting nearly all American trading partners.
“The barrage of tariffs imposed carries wide-ranging implications for the global economy, U.S. trade relationships, and developing nations, including those in Africa,” Alake noted.
In his remarks, the Minister highlighted the need for African countries to strengthen intra-African trade, reduce overdependence on external markets, and adjust domestic economic policies to better suit the current global environment.
He stressed that the time had come for the continent to organise its economic priorities and ensure a more balanced trade framework among African nations, which would help cushion the impact of external economic shocks.
Alake also criticised the longstanding practice of exporting Africa’s mineral resources in their raw state, describing the outdated ‘pit-to-port’ model—where resources are extracted and exported without value addition—as unsustainable and detrimental to the continent’s economic growth.
“We cannot continue with a model that strips Africa of its raw materials without processing or beneficiation. This is the moment to reconfigure our approach and insist on value addition within the continent,” he said.
Industry watchers say Alake’s remarks reflect a broader shift in Africa’s economic thinking, as countries seek to leverage initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to create more resilient and self-sustaining economies.
As global economic uncertainties mount, many believe the minister’s call for deeper intra-African trade and domestic value creation could be a pivotal step toward economic transformation across the continent.
