Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, has been appointed to the Board of the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria (UNGCNN), a recognition of her leadership and commitment to driving Africa’s sustainable development agenda.
The announcement comes just before the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where Ibekwe will join global policymakers, business leaders, and civil society actors to strengthen partnerships that accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Her inclusion on the board reflects years of impactful work championing education, healthcare, and the empowerment of women and young people. Under her stewardship, Sterling One Foundation has built cross-border collaborations and rolled out initiatives that have improved lives while shaping critical policy conversations across the continent.
Development experts point out that the timing of this appointment is significant: only 15% of SDGs are currently on track globally, and Africa still grapples with an estimated $200 billion annual funding shortfall. Closing this gap will require innovative financing, active private sector participation, and bold policy action.
Speaking on her new role, Ibekwe described it as an opportunity to scale ongoing efforts to localize SDG implementation—an area she has consistently prioritized through the foundation’s programs. Her position also aligns with UN Global Compact Principles and supports the African Union’s Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) 2030 initiative, both centered on inclusive economic growth and sustainable private sector involvement.
Analysts note that her appointment also reinforces the relevance of platforms like the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), where Ibekwe has been instrumental in convening stakeholders to unlock Africa’s development potential through collaboration. By bringing her grassroots experience into high-level global discussions, she further strengthens the case for Africa as a hub of innovation and sustainable solutions rather than a passive recipient of aid.