The Africa Economic Forum (AEF) has announced the appointment of renowned mining engineer and industry leader, Dr. Femi Salami, MIMM, MAusIMM, as an Executive Board Member and Chair of the Africa Mining & Minerals Forum.

The appointment comes at a critical time when mining and mineral resources are increasingly becoming central to Africa’s industrialisation agenda, energy transition ambitions, and geopolitical relevance in the global economy.

In a statement, AEF described Dr. Salami as a highly accomplished professional whose expertise, strategic leadership, and deep institutional knowledge will strengthen the forum’s efforts to drive sustainable economic development across the continent.

According to the organisation, his appointment reinforces AEF’s mission to provide a credible platform where governments, investors, mining operators, and strategic partners can collaborate on bankable opportunities, effective project execution, and long-term value creation.

The Africa Mining & Minerals Forum, which Dr. Salami will chair, is expected to serve as a key pillar of the organisation’s broader agenda, facilitating high-level dialogue, policy engagement, investment partnerships, and industry collaboration across one of Africa’s most strategically important sectors.

“We are honoured to welcome Dr. Salami into this leadership role as we continue shaping AEF as a platform for capital, strategy, and African economic transformation,” the forum stated.

Dr. Salami is widely recognised for his contributions to mining innovation, energy sustainability, critical minerals development, and climate-smart mining practices. He is a licensed mining engineer in both the United Kingdom and Nigeria and also holds a Professional Engineer (PE) certification in the United States.

His distinguished professional affiliations include membership of the Sigma Gamma Epsilon Honor Society of Geosciences, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), USA, the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM), the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), and the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA).

Having received over 70 awards and recognition for his scholarly excellence in Mining Engineering, industry observers believe Dr. Salami’s appointment will further enhance the Africa Economic Forum’s capacity to shape discussions around responsible mineral development, investment attraction, value addition, and sustainable resource governance across the continent.

As Africa seeks to leverage its vast mineral wealth to drive industrial growth and support the global energy transition, the Africa Mining & Minerals Forum is expected to play a significant role in fostering partnerships and advancing practical solutions for the sector’s development.