Stakeholders in Africa’s gold and gemstone industry are calling for increased investment, skills development, innovation and stronger participation of women as the Gold and Gemstones Conference & Exhibition, GGCE, prepares to mark its fifth anniversary in Lagos.
The 2026 edition of the conference and exhibition is scheduled to hold from November 24 to 28 in Lagos, under the theme, “African Women Driving Africa’s Gold and Gemstone Economy: Catalysing Investment, Innovation and Global Competitiveness.”
Organisers said the fifth anniversary edition would focus on turning Africa’s vast mineral resources into greater economic value within the continent rather than continuing to rely heavily on the export of raw minerals.
The conference is expected to bring together investors, entrepreneurs, miners, processors, jewellery manufacturers, technology providers, traders, designers and other industry players to explore opportunities across the gold and gemstone value chain.
According to the organisers, Africa continues to export significant quantities of raw minerals with limited local processing and value addition. GGCE 2026 will therefore promote investment in beneficiation, processing, jewellery manufacturing, technology, skills development and access to international markets.
President of Women in Mining Nigeria, Janet Adeyemi, said the fifth anniversary represented years of commitment to developing Africa’s gold and gemstone industry.
Adeyemi described the milestone as a reflection of “resilience, dedication, consistency, and an unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s gold and gemstone industry.”
She said the 2026 edition would be bigger and more impactful, with a stronger focus on meeting the needs of an increasingly global industry.
“The 2026 edition represents a new chapter, creating stronger platforms for investment, skills development, women’s participation, innovation and international collaboration.”
A major focus of the conference will be the growing role of African women across the mineral value chain.
The organisers said women would be recognised for their contributions as miners, processors, jewellery designers, manufacturers, traders, entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders.
A dedicated Awards and Recognition segment will honour women driving transformation across Africa’s gold and gemstone sector.
The organisers said greater access to skills, finance, technology, markets and leadership opportunities was helping women create new livelihoods and strengthen local value chains.
They argued that Africa’s mineral wealth could generate broader economic opportunities if more resources were invested in transforming raw materials into finished products within the continent.
GGCE 2026 will also feature practical jewellery-making masterclasses designed to help aspiring and established entrepreneurs improve their technical and creative skills.
The sessions will demonstrate how raw gold, gemstones and other materials can be transformed into commercially valuable finished jewellery products.
The event is being coordinated by DCS Integrated Media Limited, with its Managing Director, Tunde Obokhai, leading efforts to expand the conference to a more internationally competitive platform.
The organisers said the company was adopting a structured approach covering event strategy, stakeholder engagement, media visibility, branding and production to strengthen the conference’s international appeal.
They said the fifth anniversary edition would bring together a wider network of stakeholders while showcasing opportunities across Africa’s gold, gemstone and jewellery industries to global investors and partners.
The organisers are also positioning the event as a platform for building partnerships that can strengthen local capacity, increase investment and support greater value addition within Africa’s mineral economy.
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