By Chukwuma Umeorah
Efforts to close Africa’s widening development financing gap will take centre stage in July as global investors, policymakers and development institutions gather at the 2026 Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) to mobilise capital for key sectors of the economy.
With support from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the United Nations, the summit, organised by the Sterling One Foundation, is scheduled to hold in Lagos and is expected to draw over 2,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, with a focus on unlocking funding for healthcare, education, food systems, youth development and sustainable finance. Organisers say it comes amid increasing pressure on African economies to secure long-term financing to support growth and meet development targets.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said the platform would help align critical stakeholders towards addressing the continent’s development needs.
“The Africa Social Impact Summit provides a powerful platform for bringing together governments, the private sector and development partners to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. By mobilising capital, innovation and partnerships, platforms like ASIS help unlock the transformative solutions Africa needs for inclusive and sustainable development.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said stronger collaboration between public and private sector actors would be required to drive measurable outcomes.
“Nigeria welcomes platforms like the Africa Social Impact Summit that bring together global capital, innovation and policy dialogue. Strengthening collaboration between government, investors, and development partners is critical to accelerating economic growth, improving livelihoods and advancing sustainable development across the continent.”
The summit will be held under the theme “Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies”, reflecting a broader push to address structural constraints affecting growth across the continent.
Board member of the Sterling One Foundation and Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, said partnerships would play a central role in achieving development objectives.
“Africa’s development challenges are complex, but they also present immense opportunities for innovation and partnership. Platforms like the Africa Social Impact Summit are essential for bringing together leaders from government, business and philanthropy to unlock the ideas, capital and collaboration required to accelerate sustainable development across the continent.”
The programme is expected to feature policy dialogues, investor roundtables and sector-specific sessions aimed at generating financing commitments and strengthening partnerships.
The meeting comes as Africa’s population is projected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, increasing pressure on governments and institutions to mobilise capital at scale to support infrastructure, social services and economic expansion.
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