ASIS 4.0: Sterling One Foundation, UN Prepare Floor for Africa’s Next Leap
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.
ASIS 4.0: Sterling One Foundation, UN Prepare Floor for Africa’s Next Leap
With urgency and bold ambition, the fourth edition of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 4.0), co-convened by Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria, brought together over 2,500 delegates from across the globe in 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 the continent’s most pressing challenges, all anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Under the theme “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation”, ASIS 4.0 made its mark by focusing on practical, results-driven conversations.
Key players including the African Union Commission, GIZ, Afreximbank, British Council, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning pledged deeper collaboration and investment to unlock the continent’s potential through inclusive, people-centered development.
“This summit began with just eight institutions. Today, there are over 60 partners in the room,” said Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, in her welcome remarks.
“That kind of growth is not just about numbers, it’s about shared ownership. We get bold solutions when we scale action with the right execution and the right alliances,” she said. She went on to outline the summit’s three-point agenda: galvanizing multilevel partnerships, scaling investments in social impact, and driving better policy engagement.
Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, while delivering her keynote address, expressed deep concern over Africa’s development outlook amidst rising debt, declining foreign investment, and intensifying climate shocks.
She highlighted that over three billion people now live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on health and education combined.
Calling for urgent global financial reforms and equity in climate financing, she unveiled the Mission 300 initiative, aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to clean, affordable energy solutions. “We cannot afford to slow down.
Africa’s future must be built on deliberate, values-driven action that centers people, not promises,” she stressed.
Sterling Bank MD/CEO and strategic partner of the summit, Abubakar Suleiman, reinforced this sentiment: “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 the Lagos Investment Pre-Summit, hosted in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, which catalyzed sub-national engagement with global investors.
Dr. Tobias Thiel, Director at GIZ–African Union, urged all partners to intensify efforts in integrating women and youth into climate policy at all levels. He highlighted GIZ’s ongoing collaboration with the AU on climate initiatives and reaffirmed their commitment to partnering with governments, businesses, and civil society.
“The challenges are dire,” he said, “but they present opportunities to rethink and drive solutions. ASIS can be a vital platform for these dialogues. It’s not just about tech and finance, it’sabout 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.
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 and social impact programmes across three critical sectors namely: health, education and climate action & food security. Gender Equality and women empowerment are integrated as a cross cutting priority across all our programming areas. The Foundation’s programmes adopt a central theme of prioritizing partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information visit onefoundation.ng
The United Nations System (UNS) in Nigeria, comprising 19 resident and 4 non-resident entities, has had a long and productive engagement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria since its independence. The UN has been a catalytic supporter and trusted partner in Nigeria’s development efforts. Learn more about the United Nations in Nigeria at www.un.org.ng.
Chiwendu Isaiah
Public Relations, Sterling One Foundation
