Policymakers Outline Expectations Ahead Of Upcoming Africa Social Impact Summit

Development partners, policymakers, and the media have outlined expectations for the upcoming Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025 in Lagos and reflected on Africa’s role in defining local responses to global challenges.

The brainstorming session was held at a press briefing by the co-conveners, Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria, at the United Nations House in Abuja.

Speaking at the press briefing, Mohamed M. Malick Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, reinforced the urgency of this year’s convening.

“The climate crisis is eroding decades of development across Africa, displacing communities, disrupting education and health systems, and undermining economic stability. However, lasting solutions must come from those living with the impact daily.

As co-conveners of the summit, and with this year’s theme, Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation, ASIS offers a platform for African institutions to lead and for global partners to respond with investment, policy reform, and serious commitment.”

In a presentation on the summit’s evolving impact, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation, reflected on the summit’s trajectory:

“ASIS has never been about convening for its own sake. Each summit marks a deliberate step to mobilise capital, shift policy, and advance African-led solutions. Already, we have seen over 100 million dollars 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 centre of global development conversations.”

In his remarks, Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, emphasised the private sector’s enduring role in the ASIS journey:

“Sterling Bank has been a strategic partner to ASIS from the beginning. As global development funding becomes more constrained, it is increasingly clear that the private sector must help drive scalable solutions. Our engagement with ASIS reflects a belief that impact is not a side effort but core to building resilient economies and inclusive growth.”

Other partners in the room echoed the need for bold, cross-sector investment in health systems, youth employment, education access, and digital infrastructure. ASIS boasts a coalition of over 40 institutions, including Afreximbank, Coca-Cola, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, Sterling Bank, and other thematic and technical partners, with Lagos State as the host city.