The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, will headline the 10th anniversary of the Sustainability Table Discourse Series (STS), as stakeholders gather in Lagos to address Africa’s sustainable development challenges and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The two-day summit, scheduled for October 15 and 16 at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, will focus on translating sustainability commitments into tangible results, with four years remaining before the 2030 SDGs deadline.

Themed, “Leading the Sustainable Development Agenda: People, Planet and Prosperity,” the gathering will bring together government officials, business leaders, investors, development institutions, technology experts and civil society organisations to explore ways of bridging the gap between sustainability policies and their implementation across Africa.

Sanusi will deliver the flagship keynote address, titled “People, Planet & Prosperity: The Decade of Delivery,” setting the tone for discussions on the continent’s sustainability priorities and the need to move from commitments to measurable impact.

Other expected participants include Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners of Finance, Akintunde Oyebode; the First Lady of Kwara State, Olufolake AbdulRazaq; Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Tenioye Majekodunmi; and Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Innocent Barikor.

Also expected are Rukaiya El-Rufai of the Presidency/National Economic Council and Climate Change; Vice President of the Africa Finance Corporation, Adam Boros; President and Chief Executive Officer of Oando Clean Energy, Ademola Ogunbanjo; Chief Executive Officer of EnergyInc Advisors Limited, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani; and Chief Corporate Services Officer of IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla, among other stakeholders.

Convener of STS, Kayode Olaniyan, said the anniversary would mark a shift in focus from discussions and policy commitments to practical implementation, investment and measurable outcomes.

Olaniyan said Africa’s challenge was not a lack of ambition or declarations but the difficulty of translating policies into action, scaling innovations and attracting the capital required to deliver viable sustainability projects.

“Africa does not suffer from a shortage of ambition, declarations or conferences. The real deficit is execution, turning policy into implementation, innovation into scale and credible projects into investible opportunities,” he said.

He added that the series, which began in 2016, had demonstrated the importance of bringing relevant stakeholders together, but stressed that the next decade must produce concrete results beyond discussions.

“Ten years of STS have shown us the power of bringing the right people to the table. But the next decade must be about what happens after they leave it. We are not convening another talk shop. The next decade must be about delivery,” Olaniyan said.

The summit will examine four major areas: Nigeria’s energy future and expanding access to energy; technology, artificial intelligence and the SDGs; the circular economy and responsible production; and resilient food systems, smarter value chains and cold-chain infrastructure.

Beyond the policy discussions, the second day will feature masterclasses, strategic investment engagements and the STS @10 Investment and Deals Room, designed to connect capital with projects and enterprises. An Innovation Pitch Finale and Investor Showcase will also provide a platform for businesses and sustainability-focused projects to engage with investors, financial institutions and development partners.

The anniversary programme will further feature “The Earth Speaks” Sustainability and Arts Exhibition, the launch of a commemorative coffee-table book, A Decade at the Table: From Conversation to Transformation and the premiere of a documentary, Nigeria 2030: The Sustainability Imperative — A Decade of Dialogue. A New Era of Action.

Established in 2016, the Sustainability Table Discourse Series has convened stakeholders to discuss issues including the green economy, climate finance, technology, the circular economy, food security, environmental, social and governance considerations, and the SDGs.

Its 10th anniversary comes at a critical point in the global development agenda, as countries face increasing pressure to turn sustainability pledges into funded programmes, scalable innovations and outcomes that improve livelihoods while protecting the environment.