Stakeholders target bigger investment in Africa’s gold, gemstone value chain

Africa’s gold and gemstone sector is seeking increased investment in processing, technology, jewellery production and skills development as industry stakeholders prepare for the fifth edition of the Gold and Gemstones Conference & Exhibition (GGCE).

The 2026 edition of the conference and exhibition is scheduled for November 24 to 28 in Lagos, with organisers saying the event will focus on turning the continent’s vast mineral resources into greater economic value.

The conference, themed, “African Women Driving Africa’s Gold and Gemstone Economy: Catalysing Investment, Innovation and Global Competitiveness,” is expected to bring together investors, miners, processors, manufacturers, traders, designers, entrepreneurs and other players across the value chain.

In a statement ahead of the event, the organisers said Africa’s continued dependence on the export of unprocessed minerals had limited the economic benefits derivable from its natural resources.

They said GGCE 2026 would therefore provide a platform for stakeholders to explore opportunities in mineral beneficiation, processing, jewellery manufacturing, technology, design, skills development and access to international markets.

The event will also seek to connect investors with emerging opportunities while encouraging partnerships capable of strengthening local expertise and expanding Africa’s participation in the global gold and gemstone industry.

President of Women in Mining Nigeria, Janet Adeyemi, described the fifth anniversary as a reflection of the sector’s “resilience, dedication, consistency, and an unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s gold and gemstone industry.”

Adeyemi said the anniversary edition would be “bigger, more impactful, and positioned to meet the expectations of an increasingly global industry.”

According to her, the milestone would usher in a stronger phase for the platform by expanding opportunities for investment, innovation, international partnerships, skills acquisition and greater participation by women.

A major feature of the 2026 programme will be recognition of African women contributing to the industry as miners, processors, jewellery designers and manufacturers, traders, entrepreneurs, investors and leaders.

The organisers said the dedicated Awards and Recognition segment would celebrate women whose participation in the sector was creating livelihoods, strengthening local value chains and demonstrating the economic potential of Africa’s mineral resources.

They added that expanding women’s access to finance, technology, skills, markets and leadership opportunities remained critical to achieving broader economic gains from the sector.

GGCE 2026 will also include practical jewellery-making masterclasses designed to equip both new and existing entrepreneurs with technical and creative skills.

The organisers said the training would expose participants to the process of transforming raw mineral resources into finished products with greater commercial value, reinforcing the need for Africa to move beyond exporting raw materials.

Managing Director of DCS Integrated Media Limited, Tunde Obokhai, is coordinating the event as the company works to position the conference for a wider international audience.

The organisers said DCS Integrated Media Limited was adopting a globally focused strategy covering event management, stakeholder engagement, branding, media visibility and production in a bid to strengthen the conference’s international profile.

They expressed confidence that the fifth anniversary edition would attract a broader network of industry stakeholders and create fresh opportunities to showcase Africa’s gold, gemstone and jewellery potential to investors and the global market.