EMERGE backs explorers, innovators and researchers, provides catalytic grants to prove Nigeria’s solid minerals potential, and guides awardees from grant funding to private investment.
Answer a few quick questions to see whether your work fits one of our three funding streams. No portal account needed.
What best describes you?
This checker is a guide only. Eligibility is formally assessed when you apply.
Why emerge
Bridging Stranded Potential to Investment-Ready Projects
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 Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
EMERGE is open to three groups across its funding streams.
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.
Universities & research institutions
Accredited Nigerian university departments and research institutions in geosciences and mining-related disciplines.
Master's & PhD researchers
Master's and doctoral researchers in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, mineral processing, metallurgy and related fields at Nigerian institutions.
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Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What EMERGE funds, who can apply, and how the process works.
About the Programme
What is the SMDF-EMERGE Mining Grant Programme?
The SMDF-EMERGE Mining Grant Programme, the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration & Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE), is a grant programme of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), an agency of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. It was created to unlock Nigeria's mineral potential by helping promising projects move past the early exploration stage, where most stall for want of capital, reliable data, and technical capacity. EMERGE provides catalytic grants, technical support, and research funding to advance early-stage exploration, critical-minerals development and processing, and geoscience research, building a pipeline of investment-ready, bankable projects.
Who is implementing EMERGE?
EMERGE is an initiative of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, an agency of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, implemented in partnership with public and private sector stakeholders. SMDF owns the programme and ensures it stays aligned with national priorities. PwC serves as the Programme Administration Partner, managing the application process, including intake, processing, and eligibility screening, and providing administrative support across the programme.
Funding Streams
What funding streams does EMERGE offer?
EMERGE delivers funding through three complementary streams:
Exploration. Grants for grassroots and early-stage exploration, covering geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and drilling and assaying toward a maiden resource.
Critical Minerals. Targeted exploration of Nigeria's critical minerals (lithium, tin, tantalum, nickel, cobalt and rare earths), plus support for innovative processing technologies that move minerals up the value chain.
Research & Development. Grants for applied geoscience and mineral-processing research that strengthen Nigeria's geological knowledge base.
Which stream should I apply under?
Apply under the stream that matches your primary activity. Early-stage exploration companies apply under Exploration; companies whose primary or secondary target is a critical mineral, or who are developing processing technologies for them, apply under Critical Minerals; and universities, research institutions, and Master's and PhD researchers apply under Research & Development.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
EMERGE is open to three groups: exploration companies; Nigerian universities and accredited research institutions; and Master's and PhD researchers at Nigerian institutions. The detailed requirements differ by group, as set out below.
What are the specific requirements for exploration companies?
To qualify, a company must:
be a non-producing, early-stage exploration company that has already undertaken some prospecting;
be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and tax-compliant, with a valid Tax Identification Number (TIN);
hold a valid exploration licence issued by the Mining Cadastre Office;
have credible geological data and a clearly defined exploration work programme;
field a qualified technical team and demonstrate sound corporate governance; and
align with responsible-mining principles.
What are the requirements for universities, research institutions, and Master's and PhD researchers?
Master's and PhD researchers need:
proof of enrolment confirming postgraduate (Master's or PhD) status;
valid identification;
a research proposal;
a letter of support from a supervisor or referee;
evidence of institutional affiliation.
Universities and research institutions need:
proof of accreditation (for example, NUC accreditation);
