AIG foundation graduates 69 African public officials in leadership programme
By Juliana Agbo, Abuja The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has stepped up its push for governance reforms and stronger public sector leadership across Africa with the graduation of 69 senior public servants
By Juliana Agbo, Abuja
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has stepped up its push for governance reforms and stronger public sector leadership across Africa with the graduation of 69 senior public servants from the fifth cohort of its AIG Public Leaders Programme (AIG PLP).
The foundation explained that the initiative aims to strengthen governance capacity and drive institutional transformation within the continent’s public sector.
The graduation ceremony, held in Abuja, attracted senior government officials, private sector representatives, development partners, faculty members, alumni and the participants who completed the rigorous six-month executive programme conducted in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.
According to the foundation, the newly graduated participants were drawn from seven African countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.
With the latest set of graduates, the AIG Public Leaders Programme has now produced more than 300 alumni across Africa since it was launched in 2021.
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Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who spoke at the ceremony, urged the participants to prioritise practical reforms capable of delivering measurable improvements in governance and public service delivery.
He stressed that Africa’s progress would depend largely on the dedication of public officials to genuine service and lasting impact rather than personal or short-term benefits.
“The greatest asset of Africa is Africans. If we understand the true meaning of service, Africa will have a different story to tell,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He further warned that the continent may continue to struggle with challenges such as insecurity, underdevelopment and economic pressures if inefficiencies within public institutions are not addressed.
The foundation explained that the programme is structured to equip promising public officials with strategic leadership skills, policy knowledge and governance tools required to manage complex institutional environments, strengthen regulatory systems and promote accountability.
It added that the programme combines virtual learning sessions with an intensive residential module. The most recent residential phase took place in Lagos, where participants engaged in advanced policy discussions, leadership development sessions and peer-learning activities led by faculty members from Oxford and other global governance experts.
A central feature of the programme is the development of a reform project by each participant.
“These projects are designed to tackle real institutional challenges within the ministries, departments and agencies where the participants work, with the goal of improving operational efficiency, eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks and strengthening citizen-focused service delivery,” the foundation said.
According to the organisation, several alumni have already implemented reforms in their respective institutions, including improvements in regulatory procedures, compliance frameworks and digital governance initiatives aimed at boosting transparency and accountability.
Chairman of the foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the programme as a long-term investment in developing competent and reform-driven leadership within Africa’s public institutions.
“Africa’s future depends on the quality of leadership within its public institutions. Transforming public institutions requires leaders who understand complex systems, embrace necessary trade-offs and drive reform from within,” he said.
He added that the graduating cohort reflects a deliberate effort to reinforce institutions across the continent by building a network of public leaders committed to accountability, collaboration and sustained institutional reform.
The AIG PLP alumni network has continued to expand since the programme began and now includes senior officials from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Zambia and Tanzania.
The foundation noted that the growing network is helping to promote cross-border collaboration and peer learning among public servants committed to driving reforms.
