Lagos Unveils Bold Vision for Africa's Gemstone Future at GGCE 2025

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has dramatically re-positioned itself on the continental economic map, reiterating a firm dedication to developing a "world-class, sustainable, and innovation-driven gemstone and jewellery industry." This bold vision was articulated by Engr. Abiola Olowu, the Special Adviser on Mineral Resources, at the 2025 Gemstone and Jewellery Conference and Exhibition (GGCE), signalling a strategic move to leverage the State’s untapped mineral wealth.

Engr. Olowu confirmed that the State’s new focus aligns directly with the GGCE theme, “Accelerating Collaboration for Sustainable Gold and Gem Development in Africa.” While Lagos is traditionally globally recognized as a powerhouse of commerce and technology, the government is now deliberately spotlighting its previously understated mineral deposits, which include clay, silica sand, bitumen, gravel, and recently discovered crude oil. This responsible development of natural resources is deemed "vital" for diversifying the State’s economic landscape.

​The Special Adviser further outlined a strategic, long-term plan to construct a fully integrated gemstone and jewellery ecosystem. The ultimate goal is to firmly position Lagos as the continental hub for all key processes, including exploration, cutting, polishing, grading, certification, design innovation, and crucial global market access, effectively changing the established narrative that "rarely do people associate Lagos with the deep, earth-borne treasures."

​To actualize this ambitious goal, the government is aggressively pursuing a focused three-point agenda: Creating a Conducive Policy Environment, Building Critical Infrastructure, and Fostering Strategic Partnerships. This commitment was strongly communicated to industry stakeholders, with Olowu reaffirming the government's support for miners, artisans, and jewellers across the entire value chain, promising the "tools, training, and platforms" needed for them to compete effectively on the global stage.

The high-profile presence of dignitaries, including His Royal Highness, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, and the representative of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, underscored the national and royal significance of the GGCE 2025. This collective engagement solidifies the event's role in positioning Lagos and Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s sustainable gold and gemstone development, confirming that the State's true wealth lies not just in its deposits, but in the "creativity, craftsmanship, and resilience of its people."