Africa must not repeat crude oil mistake with Lithium – Wunti warns 

Says continent indispensable determination from earthy mineral exports to processing and industrialisation

NEW YORK, September 21, 2026

The Chief Executive Officer of World Energy Council Nigeria, Mr. Bala Wunti, has warned that Africa indispensable not repetition with lithium, cobalt and uncommon world elements the costly economical exemplary nether which the continent exported crude lipid and imported refined petroleum products.

Wunti said Africa indispensable determination beyond serving arsenic a root of earthy materials and presumption itself arsenic a competitory processing and manufacturing spouse wrong the emerging planetary captious minerals economy.

He spoke astatine the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit successful New York during a sheet titled, “Rare Currency: Critical Minerals successful a Shifting Global Economy.”

The summit, held from September 20 to 23 astatine the Sheraton New York Times Square alongside the United Nations General Assembly, brings unneurotic heads of state, elder authorities officials and concern leaders from much than 100 countries.

Wunti participated successful the sheet alongside Alix Steel, Principal astatine DrivePath Advisors and erstwhile Bloomberg Television anchor; Steven Fox, laminitis and Executive Chairman of Veracity ...