Sterling One Champions $100bn Africa Investment Agenda
Sterling One Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing inclusive finance across Africa at a high-level Presidential Breakfast Meeting held alongside the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa.
The meeting focused on strengthening financing frameworks and renewing commitments toward gender equality and economic inclusion across the continent.
African leaders at the gathering included Ghanaian President John Mahama and the Vice President of The Gambia, Muhammed Jallow, alongside ministers, development finance institutions and private sector stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Mahama said women remain Africa’s most underutilised asset and stressed the need to embed gender equality in macroeconomic planning and public finance systems.
“Africa cannot grow by leaving its women behind. Despite decades of declarations, Africa’s gender agenda remains chronically underfunded,” he said.
Director of the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate at the African Union Commission, Ms Prudence Ngwenya, urged stakeholders to translate commitments into measurable financing and systemic change.
She noted that more than half of Africa’s population comprises women and young people, calling for concrete actions to empower them in line with Agenda 2063.
As a strategic partner of the African Union through AU WYFEI, the foundation said it continues to promote blended finance partnerships and investment platforms targeting women- and youth-led enterprises.
Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, described financial inclusion as an economic imperative for Africa’s transformation.
“Through strategic partnerships, blended finance mechanisms and investment readiness platforms, we are working to bridge the capital gap and unlock Africa’s $100bn Investment Agenda,” she said.
The foundation added that initiatives such as the Women Investment Readiness Accelerator Programme demonstrate that inclusive finance is scalable and capable of reshaping Africa’s economic landscape.
