H.E. Advocate Sadique Kebonang,
Minister of Minerals Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security of the Republic of Botswana; 
H.E Mr Mosebenzi Zwane, Minister of Mineral Resources of the Republic of South Africa; 
H.E Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; 
President of the Organization of Geological Survey (OAGS);
Africa Vice Presidents of OAGS;
Members of the Executive Committee of OAGS; Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is my pleasure to be here with you and to address this important Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Organization of African Geological Survey.

I bring greetings from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Mr. Mousa Faki Mahmat who also sends his best wishes for the success of your meeting.
We thank the people and Government of Botswana for the hospitality accorded to us since our arrival.
I would also like to thank the Honourable Ministers who are with us in this important meeting. Your presence raises the profile of OAGS and its work.
Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I lived here from 2001 to 2005. Coming back after twelve years is a wonderful experience.
Much has changed, for the better.
However, what has not changed, but has always been good and outstanding is the warmth and friendliness of the people of Botswana. I have experienced and enjoyed this since my arrival back.
I feel like I am coming back home.

Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Mining is a key sector in the social and economic transformation of Africa.
It was against this background that in 2009, the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government adopted the Africa Mining Vision.
This is a blue print for inclusive and sustainable development of the African mineral resources sector to underpin broad-based sustainable development and structural transformation of the African economies.
In the same year, the African Mining Platform (AMP) Ministerial Meeting was transformed into the Conference of African Union Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development.
This, as you may recall, was the first time in the history of the Organization of African Unity/African Union that the Ministers responsible for mineral resources development were recognised as a policy organ of the continental body.

Looking back in 2007 when the OAGS was launched as an initiative of the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) by the African Mining Platform at the level of Ministers, one can reaffirm that it was an important and strategic decision.
Unfortunately, the OAGS was left out when the AMP was incorporated within the African Union structures.
This is a matter that has been brought to my attention. I am advised that as things stand now, the best way of dealing with this outstanding matter is conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between OAGS and the African Union Commission. This is a matter that I will be coming back to in the later part of my address.

Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like at this stage to pay tribute to my predecessor, Her Excellency Fatima Haram Acyl who, through the Department of Trade and Industry and the African Minerals Development Centre, passionately assisted you to strengthen the OAGS in order to get the required recognition and incorporation into the structures of the African Union policy organs.
As you may be aware, the inaugural Specialized Technical Committee of Ministers of Trade, Industry and Mining; under its rules of procedure, agreed to establish the Committee of the Directors-General as part of its structures. In this regard the OAGS will be crucial in ensuring that the Committee of the Directors-General performs its mandate effectively and periodically report to the Specialized Technical Committee of Ministers.
Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The importance of the OAGS cannot be over-emphasized.
Neither can we overlook it.
In as far as the developmental needs of the African continent are concerned, it is a body we cannot do without. We would create it today if it did not exist.

This is because the African continent is endowed with a vast array of mineral resources, some of whose deposits will be with us for the next one thousand years at current levels of extraction.
This natural heritage, which we have the obligation to pass on to future generations, brings into play; the need for us to have full knowledge of our minerals and natural resources wealth. This would assist us design and implement policies that will facilitate the sustainable development of these resources. Sustainability means, let me emphasize, ensuring that the needs of both present and future generations are met during the exploitation of our heritage mineral resources.

Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As earlier pointed out, Africa is well endowed with mineral resources.
We currently produce over 60 different metals and minerals: copper, nickel, bauxite, manganese, cobalt, platinum, gold, diamonds rhodium, and iron; among others, in addition to development minerals like sand, crushed stones and lime.

The mining potential of the Continent is enormous, with much of the African territory largely unexplored.
Unfortunately, for those minerals already under exploitation, we have also not reaped the full benefits from these resources. Add the challenge of illicit financial flows, of which the mining sector is a major component, the benefits considerably reduce.

In 2015, the African Union Heads of State and Government adopted the African Union Agenda 2063 as a framework that would lead to social and economic structural transformation of our economies.

Under AU Agenda 2063, the Africa Mining Vision is recognised as a key tool that would trigger the transformative role of mineral resources in achieving the aims and objectives of AU Agenda 2063.
Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Geological Surveys play a crucial role in the collection, analysis, collation and archiving of geological knowledge and data.
This data is crucial not only in the attraction of foreign direct investment, but also for assisting us in decision- making on a variety of issues such using mining to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The geological data is also critical in negotiating complex contracts in natural resources, development of infrastructure, management of water resources, renewable energy as well as mitigation and avoidance of natural disasters through early warning systems. This listing is not exhaustive. But already, the vital importance of geological data is clear.

I am, therefore, happy to note that the OAGS was instrumental in the development of the Geological and Minerals Information Systems (GMIS) and that it is part of the implementation structure, alongside the African Minerals Development Centre and other strategic players.
The GMIS, which is a framework for coordinating the implementation of continental geological information initiatives and programmes also aims to improve geological and geospatial information and its use in mineral extraction and beneficiation as well as the broader development programmes in Africa.

In this regard the OAGS, as a member of the GMIS Strategy Coordination Committee is expected to play a crucial role in the implementation of continental initiatives and become a key advocate on behalf of African Union Member States.
Honourable Ministers;
President,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am advised that you had a challenge of mobilizing membership for your organization to to have a complete continental coverage.
 
Against the background of this challenge of acquiring the quorum of the membership, the African Union Commission used the opportunity of GIMIS strategy development processes to assist you in getting the required numbers. 
 
I understand that you now have 41 active members at the moment up from 23 active members you had in 2014, registering a growth of about 78% in three years.
 
This is commendable.
 Build momentum.  
You now have the quorum of two thirds of African Union membership that is required to enable you partner and collaborate with the African Union Commission.
 
While I congratulate you upon this key achievement, I would also like to remind you that the real work has just started. The responsibility that comes with the mandate of representing the whole Continent and partnering with African Union Commission in supporting African Countries in pursuing their development agenda is enormous. I, therefore, call upon you to rededicate efforts in registering OAGS as a legal entity.
Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am also happy to note that the OAGS is partnering with the her counterpart in Europe, the European Geological Survey (EGS) organization. This partnership is in the implementation of a Geological Information Skills Development and Capacity Building for African Geological Surveys (PANFGEO) Project.

This project was approved within the framework of the African Union-European Union Strategic Partnership. We as African Union Commission are happy that skills of over 1,200 young Geoscientists that will be trained under this project will support the implementation of the African Mining Vision.
This will be a notable achievement and you should be commended for this.
Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The outstanding matter of enhanced collaboration between the OAGS and the African Union Commission is receiving priority attention, especially with regard to the finalisation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.
The issue remains outstanding because there is currently a moratorium on all Memoranda of Understanding at the African Union Commission. As a Department, we have a number outstanding not just in mining but in industry, trade as well as customs cooperation.
Honourable Ministers;
President;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have a lot of work ahead of you. Let me leave you get to work on substantive issues.
I would like to conclude by reiterating our commitment in the African Union Commission to facilitate your work.
We will continue supporting you.
We will also continue collaborating with you.

Working together, we will be better placed to use mining in pushing forward, the structural transformation and sustainable development agenda of our continent as articulated in the African Union Agenda 2063.

It is now my honour and privilege to declare this Annual General Meeting open and I wish you fruitful deliberations and look forward to receiving your outcome documents.

I thank you all for your kind attention.