About Us
Our story did not begin in a boardroom. It began on a trip to Kaduna, where a conversation with a friend introduced us to tantalite, a mineral we had never traded before. Curious and enterprising, we took some back with us, found buyers in the United Kingdom, and completed our first successful mineral trade. That was in 2001. What started as a single transaction in a northern Nigerian city became the spark that would define the next two decades of our journey.
From Kaduna, we began to explore. We moved through cities across Nigeria, learning the terrain, building relationships, and deepening our understanding of the mineral value chain. By 2011, we had expanded into gold, widening our reach progressively across Nigeria and into other parts of Africa. With every trade, every geological discovery, and every partnership forged, our conviction grew stronger: that Nigeria and Africa sat on an extraordinary wealth of resources that, handled responsibly, could transform industries, communities, and futures.
In 2013, we made it official. Preston Trading Company Limited was incorporated, taking its name from the very thing that had started it all: precious stones. Headquartered in Abuja at the heart of Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, we brought structure, expertise, and vision to what had always been our passion. We partnered with state institutions, consulted on mining projects, and expanded our operational footprint to include lithium and copper alongside our foundational commodities of tantalite and gold.
Today, Preston Trading Company Limited operates across four critical minerals: gold, tantalite, lithium, and copper, with active exploration and mining operations spanning Osun, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Plateau states in Nigeria, and extending into Uganda and other parts of Africa. Through every milestone and every expansion, we have never forgotten where it all began: a conversation, a mineral, and the courage to follow where it led.
Mission
To become the foremost developer of critical minerals in Nigeria and West Africa, delivering sustainable value to shareholders, host communities, and the nation while advancing global clean energy development through responsible and innovative mining practices.
Vision
To become the leading mining company in West Africa and a major player in Africa's mining industry, positioning Nigeria as a key contributor to global critical mineral production and establishing global standards of excellence within the African mining sector.
Core Values
Integrity, expertise, and responsibility sit at the heart of everything we do at Preston. We believe in doing business the right way: with honesty in every dealing, depth in every engagement, and genuine care for the people and places our work touches. Our integrity means we do not cut corners, misrepresent our capabilities, or compromise on the standards we have set for ourselves. Our expertise means we bring real, field-tested knowledge to every project, not theoretical frameworks but lived experience accumulated across two decades of active operations. Our responsibility means we think beyond the transaction, considering the environmental, social, and economic impact of our work on every stakeholder involved. These values are not aspirational statements on a wall. They are operational principles that shape every decision we make.
Operational Values
We operate with discipline, precision, and a deep respect for the environments and communities we work in. Every project we undertake is guided by a commitment to safety, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. We plan with care, execute with expertise, and review with honesty, because we understand that operational excellence is not achieved by chance but by consistent, deliberate practice. We build and maintain strong relationships with host communities, local authorities, and regulatory bodies, recognizing that sustainable mining is only possible when trust is established at every level. We hold ourselves to account at every stage of our operations, because we understand that how we work is just as important as what we deliver.
What Defines Us
What sets Preston apart is not just what we do, but how long we have been doing it and how well. Since 2001, we have been building expertise, relationships, and operational depth across some of Africa's most resource-rich terrains. We have navigated the full complexity of the Nigerian and African mining landscape, from the regulatory environment to the geological realities of the field, and we have done so consistently and successfully across multiple commodity types and geographies. We do not arrive at a project as outsiders learning on the job. We arrive as operators who have already done the hard work of understanding this industry from the inside. Our track record, our people, and our commitment to doing things the right way is what defines us, and they are what our clients and partners continue to rely on.
Join Us in Building a Greener Tomorrow
Together, we can forge a path towards sustainable mining and energy solutions that benefit everyone. Partner with us to make a lasting impact on our planet and communities.
