Apply: FG Early Stage Mineral Exploration And Research Grant Endowment EMERGE

The Federal Government of Nigeria is providing grants to support early-stage mining exploration and research, through @SMDFemerge.

Applications open August 3, 2026 Early-stage exploration companies and companies targeting critical minerals can receive up to 70% of eligible costs, while researchers and research institutions can get up to 100% of eligible costs.

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The Early-Stage Mineral Exploration & Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) bridges the gap from stranded potential to investment-ready projects, and helps move Nigeria's minerals up the value chain - advancing the industrialisation goal of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Anmed Tinubu, GCFR.

The Funding Streams:

1. Exploration: Grants for grassroots and early-stage exploration: geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, drilling and assaying.

Who can apply: Licensed junior / early-stage exploration companies.

2. Critical Minerals: Targeted exploration of Nigeria's critical minerals, plus support for innovative processing technologies that build domestic value chains.

Who can apply: Companies targeting lithium, tin, tantalum, nickel, cobalt and rare earths, and other metals or minerals defined as critical by the Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development.

3. Research:: Grants for applied geoscience and mineral processing research that strengthen Nigeria's geological knowledge base.

Who can apply: Master's and PhD researchers, university departments and research institutions.

Eligibility:

EMERGE is open to three groups across its funding streams:

a. Exploration companies : Non-producing, early-stage explorers that have completed some prospecting, are CAC-registered, hold a valid Mining Cadastre licence, and have credible geological data and a qualified technical team.

b. Universities & research institutions: Accredited Nigerian university departments and research institutions in geosciences and mining-related disciplines.

c. Master's & PhD researchers: Master's and doctoral researchers in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, mineral processing, metallurgy and related fields at Nigerian institutions.

How to apply:

Interested applicants should apply here https://smdf-emerge.com.ng/#streams