The United Nations has called on African governments, the private sector and development partners to scale up investments in people, mobilise sustainable financing and strengthen partnerships to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking at the Africa Social Impact Summit 2026 in Lagos on Saturday, the UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, Ms Muriel Mafico, who represented the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Ms Wafaa Saeed, said Africa’s future depended on unlocking the potential of its people through bold, people-centred investments.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the National Information Officer, UNIC, Oluseyi Soremekun, the UN stressed that every child should have access to education, every young person should be able to secure meaningful employment, every woman should be empowered to realise her potential, and every community should be equipped to withstand future shocks.
“The wealth of a nation is not measured by what it extracts from the ground. It is measured by what it unlocks in its people,” Mafico said.
She described the summit as taking place at a critical time for the continent, stressing that discussions on development financing should focus on expanding opportunities for people and communities.
