FG launches merit-based EMERGE grants for mineral exploration via SMDF and PwC
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake unveiled the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) Programme, stating that grants will be awarded strictly on merit, not personal connections. Funded by the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and administered by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), EMERGE offers three streams of competitively awarded grants to support early-stage mineral exploration, strengthen research capacity, and advance mineral-processing research that adds value to Nigeria’s resources. Applications opened at the unveiling and will be assessed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis.
Alake emphasized that the program marks the first time Nigeria offers dedicated grants for geoscience and mineral-processing research, as well as mining operators, as part of the Tinubu administration’s effort to diversify the economy and boost the sector’s GDP contribution. He cited SMDF’s existing achievements: the AFC-SMDF Project Development Facility co-funding commercial projects, a 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum alumina refinery—the largest single investment in Nigeria’s mining history—and responsibly sourced, internationally certified gold supplied to the Central Bank of Nigeria to lift foreign reserves.
Executive Secretary of SMDF Fatima Shinkafi described EMERGE as a tool to move promising projects from potential to proof by placing catalytic funding directly in the hands of explorers, universities, and research institutions, helping grantees transition from grants to private investment.
Will you prepare a strong research proposal to tap into this merit-based funding opportunity for mineral exploration or processing innovation?