In preparation for the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025, set for July 10–11 in Lagos, the United Nations in Nigeria and Sterling One Foundation, as co-conveners, hosted a high-level press briefing at the UN House in Abuja.
The event gathered development partners, policymakers, and the media to outline expectations for the upcoming summit and reflect on Africa’s role in shaping local responses to global challenges.
Since its launch in 2022, ASIS has evolved into a leading platform for regional development collaboration. From eight founding partners, the summit now convenes over 40 institutions working across climate, healthcare, education, finance, governance, and digital inclusion. This growth signals a strategic shift: African institutions are moving from recipients to agenda-setters.
The 2025 summit, themed “Scaling Action for the SDGs: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation,” will focus on strengthening sub-national development, rethinking finance flows, and addressing structural inequalities through long-term investment and reform.
Speaking at the press briefing, Mohamed M. Malick Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, underscored the summit’s urgency:
“The climate crisis is eroding decades of development across Africa, displacing communities, disrupting education and health systems, and undermining economic stability. But lasting solutions must come from those living the impact daily. ASIS offers a platform for African institutions to lead, with global partners responding through investment, policy reform, and genuine commitment.”
Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, reflected on the summit’s impact trajectory:
“ASIS has never been about convening for its own sake. Each summit is a deliberate step to mobilize capital, shift policy, and advance African-led solutions. Already, we have unlocked over 100 million dollars through coalition efforts. That scale is not accidental – it results from systems thinking, partnership, and a commitment to centering Africa’s priorities in global development conversations.”
Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO of Sterling Bank, emphasized the private sector’s role:
“Sterling Bank has been a strategic partner to ASIS from the beginning. As global development funding becomes more constrained, it is increasingly clear that the private sector must drive scalable solutions. Our engagement with ASIS reflects our belief that impact is core to building resilient economies and inclusive growth.”
Other partners echoed the need for bold, cross-sector investments in health systems, youth employment, education access, and digital infrastructure. ASIS’s coalition of over 40 institutions includes Afreximbank, Coca-Cola, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, Sterling Bank, and other thematic and technical partners, with Lagos State as host.
Interested participants can register at theimpactsummit.org.
About the Co-Conveners
Sterling One Foundation (SOF) is a registered non-profit focused on tackling the root causes of poverty in Nigeria and Africa through interventions across health, education, climate action, and food security. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are integrated as cross-cutting priorities in all programmes, with partnerships central to achieving its mission.
