By Obiabin Onukwugha
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed has expressed deep concern over Africa’s development outlook amidst rising debt, declining foreign investment, and intensifying climate shocks.
She expressed dismay that over three billion people now live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on health and education, combined.
Mohammed spoke at the fourth edition of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 4.0), with the theme: “Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation”, co-convened by Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria, at Lagos State, recently.
The UN Deputy Scribe, who delivered the Keynote Address, called for urgent global financial reforms and equity in climate financing.
“We cannot afford to slow down. Africa’s future must be built on deliberate, values-driven action that centers people, not promises,” she stated.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the CEO of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, stated that the summit began with just eight institutions but has grown with over 60 partners to its credit.
“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 added that the summit’s three-point agenda focused on galvanizing multilevel partnerships, scaling investments in social impact, and driving better policy engagement.
Dr. Tobias Thiel, Director at GIZ–African Union, urged all partners to intensify efforts in integrating women and youths 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 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,” he stated.
Prudence Ngwenya, Director, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, African Union Commission, noted the importance of the summit, saying it comes at a crucial time 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.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, represented by 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.
Sterling Bank MD/CEO and strategic partner of the summit, Abubakar Suleiman, on his part, stated that ASIS has proven that African solutions are best built through African collaboration.
A statement by the Public Relations, Sterling One Foundation, Chiwendu Isaiah, indicated that the event brought together over 2,500 delegates from across the globe in Lagos to inspire action, strengthen collaboration, and support Africa’s growth.
It also noted that participants were drawn from policymakers, impact investors, 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).
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.
It further revealed that 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.
