Sterling One Foundation has partnered United Nations in Nigeria to convene the fourth Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 4.0).
Two thousand, five hundred delegates converged on Lagos to inspire action, strengthen collaboration, and support Africa’s growth.
From policymakers and impact investors to civil society and youth advocates, the summit served as a catalytic platform for co-creating scalable, African-led solutions to Africat’s most pressing challenges, anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With the theme: “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation”, ASIS 4.0 focused on practical, results-driven conversations.
Key players, including African Union Commission, GIZ, Afreximbank, British Council, and Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning pledged deeper collaboration and investment to unlock the continent’s potential through inclusive, people-centered development.
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“This summit began with just eight institutions. Today, there are over 60 partners in the room,” said Olapeju Ibekwe, chief executive officer of Sterling One Foundation.
“That kind of growth is not just numbers, it’s about shared ownership. We get bold solutions when we scale action with the right execution and alliances,” she said. She outlined the summit’s three-point agenda: galvanising multilevel partnerships, scaling investments in social impact, and driving better policy engagement.
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, in her keynote address, showed concern for Africa’s development outlook amid rising debt, declining foreign investment, and intensifying climate shocks.
She noted that over three billion people live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on health and education combined. Calling for global financial reforms and equity in climate financing, she unveiled Mission 300 initiative, to connect 300 million Africans to clean, affordable energy.
Sterling Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and strategic partner of the summit, Abubakar Suleiman, noted: “When we say bold, we mean deliberate, practical steps backed by partnerships and purpose. ASIS has proven that African solutions are best built through African collaboration.”
Across high-level plenaries, deal rooms, and breakout sessions, stakeholders explored solutions for advancing education access, healthcare delivery, food systems innovation, climate resilience, and financing for development.
A key highlight was Lagos Investment Pre-Summit, hosted with the state, which catalysed sub-national engagement with global investors.
Director at GIZ–African Union, Dr. Tobias Thiel, urged partners to integrate women and youth into climate policy. He noted GIZ’s collaboration with AU on climate initiatives and reaffirmed their commitment to partnering, civil society, and others. “The challenges are dire,” he said, “but they are opportunities to rethink and drive solutions. ASIS can be vital here. It’s not just tech and finance, it’s about people…’’
At GIZ, we remain committed to building a resilient, inclusive world where gender equality is a reality, not a goal.”
Adding to the call for collaborative reform, Prudence Ngwenya, Director, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, African Union Commission, noted that the summit is happening at a crucial time and stressed that systemic challenges can’t be solved in isolation.
She urged for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive inclusive growth, prosperity, and financial inclusion across Africa. Representing the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, underscored the importance of political will and long-term financing. “It is not enough to acknowledge the gaps. What matters is our ability to meet those gaps with capital, policy, and scale,” she said.
As the 2025 edition drew to a close, the diversity of participants and shared resolve underscored ASIS’s growing relevance as Africa’s premier convening platform for impact. With just five years left to achieve the SDGs, the Africa Social Impact Summit continues to shift the narrative from commitment to execution, and from ambition to measurable progress.
