Action Against Hunger CEO Rings NYSE Closing Bell, Calls for Private Sector Collaboration to End Global Hunger
Chief Executive Officer of Action Against Hunger, Dr Charles Owubah, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to mark World Humanitarian Day, using the occasion to call for stronger private sector involvement in the fight against global hunger.
Dr Owubah underscored the urgency of addressing food insecurity, noting that more than 720 million people worldwide go to bed hungry each day, with nearly one in ten people deprived of the opportunity to reach their full human and economic potential.
“The truth is: solving hunger is no longer the job of governments and aid organisations alone. The scale of today’s crises demands new alliances,” he said.
He stressed that business leaders, investors, and innovators can bring transformative solutions to humanitarian challenges by leveraging their capacity to scale interventions rapidly. According to him, climate-smart agriculture, technological innovation, and new financing models can play a crucial role in sustaining long-term impact.
Citing economic data, Dr Owubah highlighted the financial benefits of addressing malnutrition. “Every $1 invested in nutrition returns $23 to the global economy. Ending hunger isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do,” he remarked.
Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organisation, works with communities to provide immediate relief while tackling the root causes of hunger. Dr Owubah said the ringing of the closing bell symbolised more than a ceremonial moment — it opened “a new era of collaboration between humanitarians and the private sector.”
He extended a call to action to innovators, investors, and corporate leaders to partner with humanitarian organisations in building sustainable solutions.
“Ending hunger in our lifetime is possible, but only if we act together — across sectors, across industries and across borders. For everyone, for good,” he concluded.
