Abuja, Nigeria, The biggest platform for financing sustainable development in Africa was in the spotlight on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. The Sterling One Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations in Nigeria and others, held the official Press Conference for the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026 at the United Nations House in Abuja.
This important briefing set the stage for a major event. Global leaders, investors, policymakers, and development partners gathered to discuss how to create a better and more prosperous Africa.
The press conference revealed the vision, strategic priorities, and programme highlights for the Africa Social Impact Summit 2026. This event will take place from 22, 24 July 2026 at the Eko Convention Center in Lagos. The theme is “Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies.”
As Africa faces a fast-changing economic environment, including global capital shifts, climate issues, food scarcity, and a growing youth population, ASIS 2026 aims to spark discussions that lead to investments, partnerships, and solutions for sustainable development across the continent.
The briefing brought together media members, government officials, development organizations, business leaders, and partners. They shared exclusive news on the summit’s agenda, confirmed speakers, partnership opportunities, and key initiatives to unlock Africa’s next growth.
During the event, Mohamed Malick Fall, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, spoke about the need for teamwork in advancing Africa’s development goals. He said, “Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in the strength of its partnerships. The Africa Social Impact Summit continues to provide a unique platform where governments, the private sector, development partners and civil society come together to mobilise the investments, innovation and collaboration needed to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Together, we can build resilient economies that leave no one behind.”
Abubakar Suleiman, a Board Member of the Sterling One Foundation, also spoke at the conference. He stressed the need for ongoing commitment beyond discussions. He said, “What we are building through ASIS is not just a convening, but a long-term platform for action. The conversations we are having today must translate into real commitments, measurable outcomes and partnerships that outlive the summit itself. That is how we move from intention to impact across the continent.”
Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of the Sterling One Foundation, added that the Africa Social Impact Summit has unlocked over $1 billion in various sectors. She said this needs to grow significantly. She noted, “The future of Africa will be defined by the quality of the sustainable partnerships we build today. The Africa Social Impact Summit is a platform that brings together African leaders, local and international investors, innovative ideas and catalytic capital to address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges while unlocking opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth. We are excited to unveil an edition that is bigger, more collaborative and more action-oriented than ever before. We expect deals of over $500 million to be signed this year.”
Since it started, the Africa Social Impact Summit has become one of the leading platforms in Africa for promoting market-driven solutions and teamwork in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063. By gathering governments, development finance institutions, investors, philanthropists, businesses, innovators, and civil society groups, the summit has continued to spark meaningful conversations that create real partnerships and measurable outcomes.
The 2026 edition will focus on getting investments and strategic partnerships in vital areas. These include education, healthcare, climate resilience, food systems, gender equality, women's empowerment, youth development, the creative economy, and sustainable finance. The summit plans to speed up actions that strengthen economies and improve lives in Africa through high-level discussions, investor roundtables, and solution-focused engagements.
ASIS 2026 expects to host more than 2,000 delegates from over 50 countries. This includes heads of government, multilateral organizations, development finance institutions, global investors, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and social innovators. They will all work together to shape a sustainable future for Africa.
The successful press conference is a key step towards ASIS 2026. Excitement is growing for the July event in Lagos, which will unite stakeholders dedicated to boosting investment, innovation, and impact across the continent.
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