Tolulope Fatunbi Named African Entrepreneur of the Year in Mining

Tolulope Fatunbi, Founder and CEO of Dorogis Limited, has been named African Entrepreneur of the Year in Mining and Natural Resources for 2026.

The award was presented at the Pan African Leadership Conference & Awards following a year-long selection process that drew more than 5,000 nominations from across Africa and beyond. It recognises Fatunbi’s leadership in driving sustainable mining, mineral traceability, and technology-led resource development on the continent.

Fatunbi has quickly emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading voices in mining. Through Dorogis Limited, he is merging geology, automation, AI and geospatial technology to explore and develop critical minerals responsibly.

His core message: Africa must stop exporting raw minerals and start processing them at home.

“At Dorogis Limited, we are proving that Africa’s mineral wealth can be more than a source of extraction,” Fatunbi said after receiving the award. “The sector can drive industrial growth, technological progress and broad economic empowerment.”

He is advocating for local beneficiation and value addition in resource-rich countries including the DRC, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique.

Fatunbi is also calling for stronger institutions to manage Africa’s geology and mineral wealth. He has proposed the creation of a national geological institution modeled on Brazil’s CPRM to professionalize exploration and data management.

His work emphasises environmental protection, community engagement, and responsible mining practices. He is deploying AI, geospatial science and new exploration technologies to position Africa more competitively in the global critical minerals market.

Fatunbi described the award as both an honour and a duty.

“Our generation must build the frameworks that turn Africa’s natural resources into long-term prosperity,” he said. “Africa’s young entrepreneurs have a critical role in building systems that convert what is beneath our soil into jobs, industries and lasting wealth.”

With demand for lithium, cobalt, copper and other critical minerals surging, Fatunbi said Africa’s future lies in owning the value chain — from exploration to processing to manufacturing.