The United Nations has called on African governments, private sector organisations and development partners to increase investment in human capital, strengthen partnerships and expand sustainable financing to fast-track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the continent.

The call was made on Saturday at the Africa Social Impact Summit 2026 in Lagos by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, who represented the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed.

According to a statement issued in Abuja by the National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Oluseyi Soremekun, Mafico said Africa’s long-term development would depend on deliberate investments that improve education, create jobs for young people, empower women and build resilient communities.

She stressed that a country’s true wealth should be measured by the opportunities it creates for its people rather than the natural resources it possesses.

Mafico described the summit as timely, noting that Africa faces mounting development challenges, including slow economic growth, rising debt, declining development assistance, climate-related emergencies and ongoing conflicts.

She also pointed to recent assessments indicating that only 36 per cent of the SDG targets are currently on track or making moderate progress, while the financing gap confronting developing countries continues to grow.

With fewer than five years left before the 2030 deadline for the SDGs, Mafico urged governments and stakeholders to intensify efforts through greater collaboration and ambitious action.

She highlighted Nigeria’s youthful population as a strategic advantage, saying sustained investments in young people could position the country as a leading centre for innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth. However, she warned that neglecting this demographic could worsen inequality and limit future development opportunities.

The UN official further urged African countries to take greater ownership of their development agenda, insisting that national leadership and locally driven solutions should remain at the centre of development efforts.

She called for reforms that would unlock private sector financing, improve domestic revenue generation, promote entrepreneurship and innovation, expand opportunities for women and young people, and harness technology to accelerate development.

Mafico added that the United Nations is partnering with governments, civil society groups, development agencies and private sector organisations in Nigeria to support programmes in institutional development, social protection, food security, renewable energy, digital innovation, education and youth and women empowerment.

She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting inclusive development and urged stakeholders to ensure that commitments made at the summit translate into practical actions, stronger partnerships and investments capable of advancing Africa’s development aspirations.