Ahead of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025, scheduled for
July 10 and 11 in Lagos, co-conveners Sterling One Foundation and the United
Nations in Nigeria held a high-level press briefing at the United Nations House
in Abuja. The event brought together development partners, policymakers, and
the media to outline expectations for the upcoming summit and reflect on
Africa’s role in defining local responses to global challenges.
Since
its launch in 2022, ASIS has grown into a key platform for regional development
collaboration. From eight founding partners, the summit now brings together
over 40 institutions working across climate, healthcare, education, finance,
governance, and digital inclusion. This expansion points to a growing shift:
African institutions are pushing to set the agenda, not wait to be handed one.
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
tackling 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, reinforced the
urgency of this year’s convening.
“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.
As co-conveners of the summit, and with this year’s theme Scaling Action: Bold
Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation, ASIS offers a platform
for African institutions to lead and for global partners to respond with
investment, policy reform, and serious commitment.”
In
a presentation on the summit’s evolving impact, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling
One Foundation, reflected on the summit’s trajectory:
“ASIS has never been about convening for its own sake. Each summit marks a
deliberate step to mobilize capital, shift policy, and advance African-led
solutions. Already, we have seen over 100 million dollars unlocked through
coalition efforts. That scale is not accidental. It is the product of systems
thinking, partnership, and a commitment to putting Africa’s priorities at the
center of global development conversations.”
In
his remarks, Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, emphasized the private
sector’s enduring role in the ASIS journey:
“Sterling Bank has been a strategic partner to ASIS from the very beginning. As
global development funding becomes more constrained, it is increasingly clear
that the private sector must help drive scalable solutions. Our engagement with
ASIS reflects a belief that impact is not a side effort but core to building
resilient economies and inclusive growth.”
Other
partners in the room echoed the need for bold, cross-sector investment in areas
such as health systems, youth employment, education access, and digital
infrastructure. ASIS boasts a coalition of over 40 institutions that includes
Afreximbank, Coca-Cola, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, Sterling
Bank, and other theme and technical partners, with Lagos State as the host
city.
Interested
participants are encouraged to register at theimpactsummit.org
No comments:
Post a Comment