Grants for grassroots and early-stage exploration projects, to prove Nigeria’s solid minerals potential and guide awardees from grant funding to private investment.
The Exploration Stream targets non-producing, early-stage exploration companies that have already undertaken some prospecting, hold a valid Mining Cadastre Office licence, and have credible geological data and a defined work programme. Only Licensed junior/early-stage exploration companies are eligible for this stream.
Eligiblity Criteria
What EMERGE looks for in applicants.
Applicants must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and hold valid licenses/permits issued by the Mining Cadastre Office. The mining license must be valid for at least 1 year from the application date.
Only companies focused on early-stage exploration will be considered.
Projects must demonstrate credible prospecting data (preliminary surveys, mapping, geochemical or geophysical data) and a clearly defined exploration Programme and a qualified technical team.
Applicants must show strong corporate governance, transparent reporting, and experienced management or technical advisors.
Projects must align with environmental standards, community engagement requirements, and responsible mining principles.
What we fund
What costs are covered by EMERGE.
Geological, geophysical, and geochemical surveys (including mapping and data acquisition).
Drilling programme, sampling, laboratory analysis, and assays.
Technical consulting, geological modelling, and data management systems.
Grants are capped at a maximum of 70% of the eligible costs and applicants are expected to provide evidence of co-funding for at least 30% of the eligible costs. Successful projects may be considered for follow-on investment from SMDF under its Project Development Facility.
What we do not fund
What expenses are not covered by EMERGE.
Mine development or production activities.
Travel and attendance at conferences and events.
Loan refinancing, interest or debt repayments of existing financial obligations.
Losses on investments and bad debts.
Depreciation or amortisation of assets.
Recoverable taxes (e.g., VAT).
Employee bonuses and discretionary payments.
Donations, dues, and membership fees.
Entertainment and non-essential expenses.
For research awards, general purpose equipment and university administrative overheads are also excluded.
Application requirements
What applicants need to provide to submit a complete application.
Completed grant application form.
Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration.
Evidence of tax compliance.
Valid exploration license issued by the Mining Cadastre Office.
Comprehensive workplan for exploration programme.
Detailed budget and expense breakdown for the respective project.
Technical team profile, including key personnel, qualifications, and relevant experience.
Historical prospecting data (where available), such as reconnaissance and geological mapping, sampling, and geochemical or geophysical survey results, together with any drilling logs or assay data from previous work.
Evidence of statutory compliance with consent requirements (e.g., land access agreements, Community Development Agreement or other relevant documents).
For processing-technology projects under the Critical Minerals stream, a technology description with evidence of proof of concept.
EMERGE Grant Manual
Download the EMERGE Grant Manual to learn more about the funding streams, eligibility criteria, and application process.
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);
