As momentum builds for the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025, co-conveners Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria have issued a rallying call for bold, African-led solutions to the continent’s most pressing development challenges.
During a high-level press briefing at the United Nations House in Abuja, development partners, government officials, and media stakeholders gathered to outline key expectations for the two-day summit scheduled for July 10 and 11 in Lagos.
Launched in 2022 with just eight partners, ASIS has since expanded into a major regional platform, with more than 40 institutions now collaborating across sectors including climate, healthcare, education, finance, governance, and digital inclusion. The upcoming 2025 summit carries the theme: “Scaling Action for the SDGs: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation.”
Mohamed M. Malick Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, warned of the urgent need for action.
“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,” he said. “ASIS offers a platform for African institutions to lead and for global partners to respond with investment, policy reform, and serious commitment.”
Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, noted the summit’s growing influence in translating dialogue into tangible impact.
“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,” she said. “Already, we have seen over $100 million 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.”
Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO of Sterling Bank, emphasized the critical role of the private sector in driving long-term progress.
“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,” he noted. “Our engagement with ASIS reflects a belief that impact is not a side effort but core to building resilient economies and inclusive growth.”
Stakeholders at the briefing reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening sub-national development, reforming finance systems, and addressing inequality—key focal points of this year’s summit.
The ASIS 2025 coalition includes institutions such as Afreximbank, Coca-Cola, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, and Lagos State Government as the host city.
Prospective participants can register via the summit website at theimpactsummit.org.
About the Co-Conveners:
Sterling One Foundation is a registered non-profit organization committed to addressing poverty through transformative programmes in health, education, and climate action. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are core to all its initiatives. Learn more at onefoundation.ng.
The United Nations System in Nigeria comprises 19 resident and 4 non-resident entities, supporting the country’s development journey since independence. Learn more at un.org.ng.