By Jemimah Wellington, JKNMedia Reporter
TO ADVANCE the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, the Sterling One Foundation (SOF) announced a strategic collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to host the third Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS).
Set to take place on July 25-26, 2024, at the Eko Convention Center in Lagos, Nigeria, this summit aims to address investment risks, drive impact investment flows, facilitate policy dialogues, and foster partnerships crucial for sustainable growth across the continent.
The partnership underscores the pivotal role of the private sector in promoting social impact initiatives and sustainable practices.
Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, SOF, emphasized ASIS’s significance in convening leaders from various sectors to accelerate SDGs achievement in Africa.
“ASIS provides a platform for robust discussions on sustainable development in Africa. Trade and finance are integral to this agenda, and Afreximbank’s leadership will enhance productivity and economic growth across the region,” Mrs. Ibekwe stated.
Mr. Eric Monchu Intong, Regional Chief Operating Officer for Anglophone West Africa at Afreximbank, highlighted the strategic nature of the partnership with Sterling One Foundation in hosting ASIS.
“This collaboration aligns with our commitment to advancing economic development in Africa under the African Union Agenda 2063.
By leveraging ASIS, we aim to foster sustainable growth through impactful investments and strategic alliances across sectors,” Mr. Intong explained.
Afreximbank, it was also stressed, has been instrumental in driving economic initiatives such as the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), which facilitated transactions worth US$43.8 billion in 2023.
The bank’s initiatives also include the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria, aimed at enhancing healthcare infrastructure and medical tourism across Africa.
The ASIS event is billed to feature panel discussions on climate action, healthcare, education, youth development, and green financing.
It will also include an Investors’ Roundtable in partnership with the Lagos State Government and a Deal Room for SME entrepreneurs focused on scalable impact solutions as more information on it are found on www.theimpactsummit.org.
SOF, a registered non-profit has been exhibiting dedication to addressing poverty’s root causes in Nigeria and Africa through impactful interventions in climate action, health, education, youth development, gender equality, and food security, among others.
Afreximbank, a Pan-African multilateral financial institution has also been operating on its mandate to promote and finance intra-African and extra-African trade.
With a focus on transforming Africa’s trade structure and accelerating industrialization, the bank has been playing a crucial role in economic expansion and regional integration.
