Girls' rights take center stage at Africa Social Impact Summit

L-R: Helen Idiong, Director, Program & Influencing, Plan International Nigeria; Charles Usie, Country Director, Plan International Nigeria; Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; and Sheila Ojei, Director, Philanthropy, Plan International Nigeria, at a press briefing, where Plan International Nigeria announced its theme partnership for the upcoming Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), in collaboration with the Co-convener, Sterling One Foundation recently.

Plan International Nigeria, a leading advocate for girls’ rights and gender equality, will return to the Africa Social Impact Summit this year with a strategic emphasis on policy influence, system strengthening, and high-impact partnerships that drive the protection, empowerment, and long-term advancement of girls across the continent.

As one of the summit’s theme partners, Plan International Nigeria will be driving strategic discussions on gender equity, inclusive education, and protection, amplifying the urgent need for resilient systems that safeguard and support adolescent girls, particularly in crises, conflict, and recovery.

The organisation continues to press for development strategies that deliver lasting support for girls in schools, in communities, and in national policy agendas and their implementation, to ensure sustainable impact.

“The development conversation is incomplete if girls are still being left behind,” said Charles Usie, Country Director, Plan International Nigeria. “ASIS is a space where that reality cannot be ignored. We are here to keep the focus on meaningful change for every girl navigating risk, uncertainty and unequal systems.”

At ASIS 4.0, Plan International Nigeria will join high-level panels and working groups focused on education financing, youth policy, and gender-responsive development. The organisation will also use the platform to spotlight community-driven stories that reflect the power of long-term, girls-centred interventions and initiatives.

Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, said, “Plan International Nigeria plays a critical role in keeping the summit equitable and inclusive.”

“Plan International Nigeria does more than represent girls. It defends their place at the centre of every policy conversation,” she said.

About the Co-Conveners

Sterling One Foundation

Sterling One Foundation (SOF) is a registered non-profit focused on tackling the root causes of poverty in Nigeria and Africa through interventions and social impact programmes across three critical sectors, namely: health, education and climate action & food security. Gender Equality and women’s empowerment are integrated as a cross-cutting priority across all our programming areas. The Foundation’s programmes adopt a central theme of prioritising partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information, visit onefoundation.ng

United Nations in Nigeria

The United Nations System (UNS) in Nigeria, consisting of 19 resident and 4 non-resident entities, has had a productive engagement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria since its independence and has been a catalytic supporter of and trusted partner in the development aspirations of Nigeria. Learn more about the United Nations in Nigeria

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.