LAGOS/Nigeria: The Africa Social Impact Summit 3.0, held in Lagos, highlighted the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration, innovation, and strong leadership to drive sustainable development across Africa.
Co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations, Nigeria, the summit served as a platform for stakeholders to foster dialogue and partnership on critical development issues.
The summit kicked off with an Investor Roundtable on July 24, hosted by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Sterling One Foundation, Alitheia Capital, and ETK Group. This pre-summit event brought together key stakeholders and investors to explore sustainable investment opportunities in Lagos State. Notable attendees included Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, and Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem.
Day 1 featured a series of panel discussions addressing pressing challenges such as investment, education, healthcare, and climate action. These sessions emphasized innovative solutions and strategies for sustainable development. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed underscored the private sector’s pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in climate resilience and technological innovations. “Sustainable growth must include climate resilience, leveraging technology, and private sector innovations. Let us recommit ourselves to the 2030 agenda that is inclusive, impactful, and inspiring,” Mohammed said.
Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of the Sterling One Foundation, stressed the importance of partnerships in addressing multifaceted challenges. “At the Africa Social Impact Summit, we recognize that no single entity can address the multifaceted challenges we face. It is through partnerships that we can harness diverse expertise and resources to tackle issues ranging from healthcare to education, and from economic growth to climate resilience. Our collective efforts can ignite significant change, turning ideas into impactful actions,” Ibekwe stated.
Abubakar Suleiman, CEO of Sterling Bank, highlighted the necessity of creating an enabling environment for social impact. “Creating a market for social impact means ensuring there is information, trust, and efficient allocation of resources. I look forward to us signing deals and, beyond today, I encourage everyone to join a community that fosters year-long dialogue and action. Together, we will drive the conversations necessary for sustained impact,” Suleiman said.
Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat emphasized the critical role of the summit in driving sustainable development in Lagos and across Africa. He explained that the Lagos State “THEMES PLUS” programme was designed to foster growth and resilience across key sectors. “ASIS 2024 must serve as a catalyst for collaboration and action towards sustainable development in Africa. Public-private partnerships are essential for attracting impactful investments, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, clean energy, and social enterprises. The involvement of all stakeholders is crucial in developing effective and inclusive policies. Moreover, leveraging technology to create locally-relevant solutions is key,” Hamzat remarked.
The summit’s second day, held on July 26 at the Eko Convention Centre, featured the “Bold Actions Meeting,” an important session championed by ABC Health. This meeting aimed to secure the commitment of key stakeholders across sub-national governments and the private sector to accelerate progress towards specific SDGs in the health sector. Participants included 15 Commissioners of Health from various Nigerian states, underscoring the importance of coordinated action in healthcare.
Mories Atoki, CEO of ABC Health, spoke on the critical need to depoliticize healthcare partnerships for effective collaboration. “The politicization of some of these partnerships is the ugly problem to be tackled,” Atoki said. Zouera Yousouffou, CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, emphasized the urgent need for adequate funding and structural reforms within the healthcare sector. “Africa lacks the adequate funding and structure to effectively tackle issues in the health sector. Our focus should shift from rediagnosing already known challenges to think concretely on the next line of action,” Yousouffou stated.
Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), stressed the need to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible results. “While partnerships and civil societies are crucial, we need to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible results. Other types of impact capital will be more effective where funding is generally inadequate,” Aduloju noted.
Professor Akin Abayomi, Commissioner of Health for Lagos State, highlighted the role of education and moral leadership in society. “To restructure society around leadership, three things come into play: Example, Educate, and Environment. Leaders don’t just happen; they are made through education and training,” Abayomi said.
In addition to the Bold Actions Meeting, the summit featured various sessions addressing key issues. The “Displaced Persons Conversations” panel, moderated by H.E. Mrs. Toyin Saraki, Founder of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, focused on job creation and economic empowerment for displaced persons. Panelists included UNHCR Nigeria Representative Arjun Jain, TGI Group Vice Chairman Farouk Gumel, Cameroonian refugee Ojong Annette Nkongho, and Sterling Bank MD Abubakar Suleiman. Discussions explored strategies for integrating displaced individuals into the workforce and promoting inclusive economic opportunities.
Additional sessions covered topics such as talent attraction, governance, and leadership, examining the frameworks and policies needed to support sustainable development. These discussions highlighted the importance of ethical leadership and transparent governance in achieving long-term progress.
The summit concluded with a strong call to action, urging all participants to build on the insights gained and continue fostering partnerships for sustainable impact. In her closing remarks, Olapeju Ibekwe expressed gratitude to all attendees and partners for their engagement and contributions. “Foster partnerships, scale investments, and maintain focus on social impact,” Ibekwe urged.
The Africa Social Impact Summit 2024 underscored the necessity of cross-sector collaboration, innovation, and leadership in driving sustainable development. The event ended with a firm commitment from all participants to work towards achieving significant social impact across Africa.
