Sterling One Foundation, UN Chart Africa’s Path to Progress at ASIS 4.0
L–R: Olatunji Mayaki, Chairman, Board of Directors, Sterling Bank; Kunle Elebute, Former Chairman, KPMG Africa & Senior Partner, KPMG Nigeria; Foluso Phillips, Chairman, Phillips Consulting; Folasade Bada Ambrose, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment (CCT&I), Lagos State; Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; Dr. Tobias Thiel, Director, GIZ African Union Portfolio; and Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, at the recently held fourth edition of the Africa Social Impact Summit in Lagos, co-convened by Sterling One Foundation and United Nations Nigeria.
Lagos, Nigeria – July 24, 2025
Over 2,500 global delegates converged in Lagos for the fourth edition of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 4.0), a high-level convening co-hosted by Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria, with a clear mandate—to move from dialogue to bold, scalable action for Africa’s sustainable growth.
Held under the theme “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation,” ASIS 4.0 served as a platform for governments, development partners, impact investors, civil society, and youth leaders to co-create African-led, locally driven solutions to the continent’s pressing challenges, particularly around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In her opening remarks, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, celebrated the summit’s evolution from just eight institutional partners to over 60.
“This kind of growth is not just about numbers—it reflects shared ownership. We achieve bold solutions when we scale action with the right execution and the right alliances,” she said.
She outlined ASIS 4.0’s three-point agenda:
- Galvanizing multilevel partnerships
- Scaling investment in social impact
- Driving better policy engagement
Delivering a powerful keynote address, Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, painted a stark picture of Africa’s development outlook amid mounting debt, shrinking foreign direct investment, and intensifying climate threats.
She revealed that more than three billion people now live in countries where more is spent on debt servicing than on health and education combined.
Calling for urgent reforms in global financial systems and climate financing equity, she unveiled the Mission 300 initiative, aimed at delivering clean, affordable energy to 300 million Africans.
“We cannot afford to slow down. Africa’s future must be built on deliberate, values-driven action that centers people, not promises,” she declared.
Backing this call, Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO of Sterling Bank and a strategic partner of the summit, emphasized the importance of purposeful collaboration.
“When we say bold, we mean deliberate, practical steps backed by partnerships and purpose. ASIS has shown that African solutions are best built through African collaboration,” he said.
Throughout the summit—via plenaries, deal rooms, and breakout sessions—stakeholders tackled urgent issues ranging from education and healthcare access to food systems innovation, climate resilience, and sustainable financing.
A major highlight was the Lagos Investment Pre-Summit, organized in partnership with the Lagos State Government. The session facilitated meaningful sub-national engagement with global investors and showcased Lagos as a hub for scalable social impact opportunities.
Dr. Tobias Thiel, Director at GIZ–African Union, urged for the deeper inclusion of women and youth in climate policy conversations.
“The challenges are dire, but they present opportunities to rethink and drive solutions,” he said. “ASIS is not just about tech and finance—it’s about people. At GIZ, we are committed to building a world where gender equality is a lived reality.”
Echoing this, Prudence Ngwenya, Director of the Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate at the African Union Commission, called for stronger public-private cooperation to overcome structural barriers to inclusive prosperity across the continent.
Also speaking on behalf of the UN in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, emphasized the need for long-term political commitment and financing.
“Acknowledging the gaps is not enough. What matters is our ability to meet those gaps with capital, policy, and scale,” she noted.
As the 2025 edition of ASIS drew to a close, participants left with renewed determination and a shared commitment to measurable progress. With just five years remaining to achieve the SDGs, ASIS 4.0 reaffirmed its role as Africa’s leading platform for accelerating impactful, inclusive development.
About the Co-Conveners:
Sterling One Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to addressing the root causes of poverty across Nigeria and Africa. Its interventions span health, education, climate action, and food security, with gender equality integrated across all its initiatives. The foundation prioritizes partnerships to achieve the SDGs. Learn more at onefoundation.ng.
The United Nations System in Nigeria consists of 19 resident and four non-resident entities working in close partnership with the Nigerian government since independence. The UN remains a strategic ally in the country’s development journey. Visit un.org.ng for more.
Media Contact:
Chiwendu Isaiah
Public Relations, Sterling One Foundation
