Sterling One Foundation Partners with Afreximbank for Africa Social Impact Summit 2024

To bolster private sector involvement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, the Sterling One Foundation has announced a strategic partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) for the third edition of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS). The event will be held from July 25-26, 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria.
The summit aims to devise strategies to mitigate risks in Africa’s investment landscape, boost impact investment flows, drive policy-influencing discussions, and foster partnerships for sustainable growth.
Private sector engagement is critical for achieving the SDGs due to its capacity for large-scale funding and the ability to promote responsible consumption through policies, production processes, output, and specific projects.
Afreximbank, the leading multilateral financial institution in Africa focused on financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade, will drive crucial discussions in development financing.
“ASIS brings together leaders from various sectors to share insights and plans for accelerating the SDGs in Africa. Trade is essential to this development process, and few organizations can drive productivity like Afreximbank,” said Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of the Sterling One Foundation.
Mr. Eric Monchu Intong, Regional Chief Operating Officer for Anglophone West Africa at Afreximbank, highlighted that the Bank’s partnership with Sterling One Foundation aligns with its long-standing relationship with Sterling Bank Nigeria. The collaboration will support participating organizations through knowledge sharing on Afreximbank’s innovative financing solutions aimed at increasing Africa’s share of global trade.
“We are excited about this partnership as it strengthens alliances for our shared prosperity and economic emancipation under the African Union Agenda 2063. Its multisectoral approach is crucial, as no single organization or sector can drive the sustainable growth needed by the continent,” he added.
Afreximbank has spearheaded significant economic development initiatives, such as the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) with deals valued at $43.8 billion in 2023, the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria, and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund. These initiatives highlight the bank’s commitment to transforming Africa into a medical tourism hub and boosting the continent’s global trade share.
The Africa Social Impact Summit will be held at the Eko Convention Center in Lagos, featuring panel discussions on climate action, healthcare, education, youth development, and green financing. The two-day event also includes a pre-event Investors’ Roundtable in partnership with the Lagos State Government and a Deal Room for impact-focused SMEs offering scalable solutions across Africa. More information is available at www.theimpactsummit.org.