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From July 22–24, 2026, Sterling One Foundation, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and United Nations Nigeria, hosted the fifth edition of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS 5.0). Themed "Financing for Development: Building Resilience and Transforming Emerging Economies," the three-day summit brought together innovators, development partners, policymakers, investors, business leaders, philanthropists, and changemakers from across Africa. United by a shared vision, participants explored practical solutions to accelerate sustainable development through strategic collaboration, innovative financing, and bold action. This year's summit placed a strong emphasis on financing development, strengthening resilience, and driving transformation across emerging economies. The event featured distinguished speakers, including Muriel Mafico (Resident Representative, UNFPA Nigeria), Aalkif Merchant (Director & Head of Africa, Convergence), Nicole Campbell (Co-CEO & Co-President, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors), Abubakar Suleiman (Managing Director/CEO, Sterling Bank), Amina J. Mohammed (Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations), Roger Thompson Brown (CEO/Executive Director, Seplat Energy), and Aminu Umar-Sadiq (Managing Director/CEO, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority). The summit was also supported by notable partners such as Lagos State Government, Afreximbank, Coca-Cola, Sterling Bank, Global Compact Network Nigeria, Plan International, Seplat Energy, MTN, IHS, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), and UNDP, among many others, all working together to unlock opportunities and drive meaningful impact across the continent. During the summit, NigerianNGO spoke exclusively with Eduardo Ramos, Social Investment Associate at Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, who shared insights into the organization's work in outcome-based financing. According to Ramos, Bridges Outcomes Partnerships specializes in social outcomes contracts, linking financing directly to measurable social impact. The organization provides upfront capital for outcome-based initiatives while supporting local NGOs throughout project implementation to ensure meaningful results. Speaking about their work in Nigeria, he revealed that the organization is currently involved in a programme in Lagos focused on addressing out-of-school children through the Education Outcomes Fund. He also expressed enthusiasm about expanding similar social outcomes contracts into other sectors, including healthcare, in partnership with organizations such as Tiko. Similarly, Dr. Charles Usie, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, shared his key takeaway from the summit. He emphasized the need for Nigeria and other African countries to explore alternative approaches to financing development beyond traditional grant funding. Over the course of the three-day summit, Sterling One Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to transforming bold ideas into meaningful partnerships and actionable solutions. Through engaging discussions, strategic collaborations, and innovative thinking, the Foundation once again demonstrated that Africa's greatest strength lies in its people and their collective determination to create sustainable change. More than just a conference, the Africa Social Impact Summit continues to evolve into a movement that inspires partnerships, unlocks opportunities, and drives solutions capable of shaping Africa's future. The message from ASIS 5.0 was unmistakable: Africa's economic transformation depends on intentional investments in women, young innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and everyone working to build a more sustainable and inclusive future. To learn more about Sterling One Foundation and its initiatives, visit: Website: https://onefoundation.ng/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sterlingonefoundation      
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