UN Calls for Investment in People to Meet 2030 Goals

The United Nations has called on African governments, the private sector, and development partners to increase investments in people to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Speaking at the Africa Social Impact Summit 2026 in Lagos, Ms.

Muriel Mafico, the UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, emphasized that Africa's future relies on bold, people-centered investments. She stated that every child should have access to education, every young person should secure meaningful employment, and every woman should be empowered.

Mafico warned that Africa's development ambitions face threats from economic challenges, rising debt, and climate-related disasters, with only 36% of Sustainable Development Goal targets currently on track. She highlighted Nigeria's youthful population as a significant asset and urged prioritization of home-grown solutions and national leadership.

Mafico called for a shift in development financing to unlock private capital, support entrepreneurship, and invest in women and youth, stressing that no country can outsource its development.