ASIS 2026 Targets $500m New Deals As Africa’s Premier Devt Summit

…Unlocks Over $1bn Investments

…Over 2,000 delegates from 50 countries are expected at the Lagos summit

The Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) has unlocked more than $1 billion in investments across key sectors, with expectations of securing an additional $500 million in investment deals during its fifth edition scheduled for July 22–24, 2026, in Lagos.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday to unveil plans for ASIS 2026, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, said the summit has grown into Africa’s largest platform for financing sustainable development and is poised to drive even greater investment commitments this year.

The summit, which is being organised in collaboration with the United Nations in Nigeria and other strategic partners, is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates from over 50 countries.

With the theme, “Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies,” ASIS 2026 will bring together African leaders, international investors, development partners, policymakers and innovators to explore solutions to the continent’s most pressing challenges while creating opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth.

According to Ibekwe, the summit has established itself as a leading platform for mobilising catalytic capital and fostering strategic partnerships across Africa.

“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,” she said.

“We are excited to unveil an edition that is bigger, more collaborative and more action-oriented than ever before. We expect investment deals worth over $500 million to be signed during this year’s summit.”

Also speaking, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, underscored the critical role of partnerships in advancing Africa’s development agenda.

“Africa’s greatest opportunity lies in the strength of its partnerships,” Fall said.

“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.”

In his opening remarks, Board Member of Sterling One Foundation, Abubakar Suleiman, stressed the need for sustained commitment beyond discussions and declarations.

“What we are building through ASIS is not just a convening, but a long-term platform for action,” Suleiman said.

“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.”

The briefing set the stage for what organisers described as a landmark gathering of global leaders, investors, development institutions and policymakers committed to shaping a more resilient and prosperous Africa.

The summit, scheduled to be held at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, comes at a time when Africa faces shifting global capital flows, climate-related challenges, food insecurity and a rapidly growing youth population.

Organisers said ASIS 2026 will focus on practical, investment-driven discussions capable of accelerating sustainable development across the continent.

Key sectors of focus include education, healthcare, climate resilience, food systems, gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth development, the creative economy and sustainable finance.

Through high-level dialogues, investor roundtables and solution-focused engagements, the summit aims to catalyse investments, strengthen partnerships and promote scalable initiatives that improve livelihoods and drive economic growth across Africa.

Since its launch in 2022, ASIS has evolved into one of Africa’s foremost platforms for advancing market-led solutions and cross-sector collaboration in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Co-convened by Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations, the summit continues to bring together governments, development finance institutions, businesses, philanthropists, investors, innovators and civil society organisations to create actionable solutions for sustainable development across the continent.