Libreville, July 11, 2026 — The debate over local processing of Africa’s natural resources is no longer confined to boardrooms, international summits, or government ministries. Today, it plays out in university lecture halls, vocational training centers, and the academic pursuits of a new generation.

In Gabon, the third edition of the Yam’NA program, jointly launched by Eramet Comilog and SETRAG, embodies this shift. Behind the announcement of fifty new scholarships for Gabonese high school graduates lies a far-reaching strategy: building the expertise that will drive the country’s industrial transformation in the decades ahead.

Officially unveiled in Libreville on July 10, this latest iteration represents a significant evolution since the program’s 2024 inception under Eramet Comilog’s Beyond initiative and its “Act for Positive Mining” corporate responsibility framework. To date, nearly fifty Gabonese students have already benefited from support to pursue higher education within the country.

The addition of SETRAG as a partner marks a new chapter, expanding the program’s national scope. By uniting the mining sector with the country’s most critical rail infrastructure, the initiative now targets a single goal: investing in Gabon’s human capital.

Preparing for careers that don’t yet exist

For generations, extractive economies across Africa have exported raw materials while importing the technical skills needed to process them. Gabon is determined to break this cycle.

The fifty new scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year will target sectors identified as vital to the nation’s future. Priorities include metallurgy, steel production, industrial chemistry, agro-processing, agroforestry, and professions tied to the green economy.

This strategic pivot is no small feat. It aligns with national ambitions to boost local value addition, reduce reliance on imported expertise, and strengthen the processing of Gabon’s natural wealth—from manganese and iron to timber and agricultural products.

The stakes extend beyond job placement. The program aims to cultivate engineers, technicians, metallurgists, environmental specialists, industrial process experts, and mid-level managers who will lead tomorrow’s transformation projects. In a global landscape defined by energy transitions and competition over strategic minerals, raw resource ownership alone is no longer enough. Countries must possess the skills to process, refine, and capture economic value locally.

Investing in economic sovereignty

The Yam’NA program targets Gabonese youth under 25 who passed their baccalaureate exams in the first session and wish to pursue higher education in technical, industrial, or environmental fields. Applications are open from July 8 to 28, 2026.

Beyond financial aid, the initiative bridges the gap between academic training and real-world economic demands—a persistent challenge for many African economies. While companies struggle to fill specialized roles, graduates often face barriers in oversaturated or misaligned fields.

The partnership between Eramet Comilog and SETRAG offers a tangible solution to this structural issue. As Gabon’s largest private employer, with around 3,500 direct jobs in the Haut-Ogooué region through its Comilog and SETRAG subsidiaries, Eramet remains a key economic player in Gabon and Central Africa.

SETRAG, meanwhile, operates the 648-kilometer Transgabonais railway, linking inland mining zones to the port of Owendo. Each year, it transports nearly nine million tons of goods and hundreds of thousands of passengers, cementing its role as the backbone of Gabon’s logistics network.

The future belongs to those who build skills today

Africa is entering a new phase of economic development where the central question is no longer about infrastructure or investment, but about the talent needed to drive industrial change. In this global race, nations that thrive will be those transforming their youth into engines of value creation.

The Yam’NA program reflects this long-term vision. By steering students toward local processing careers and green economy professions, Gabon is not just reacting to industry needs—it is shaping them for tomorrow.

The objective is clear: cultivate a generation capable not only of extracting Gabon’s resources but of refining, enhancing, and leveraging them as a sustainable pillar of economic sovereignty. Application details and eligibility criteria are available on the Yam’NA program’s dedicated platform.