Foundation, varsity graduate 69 African public sector leaders

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, has celebrated the graduation of the fifth cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme in Abuja. The ceremony drew senior government officials, private sector players, development partners, alumni and faculty members, alongside 69 participants from Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania […]

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, has celebrated the graduation of the fifth cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme in Abuja.

The ceremony drew senior government officials, private sector players, development partners, alumni and faculty members, alongside 69 participants from Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.

Organisers said the graduation marked the completion of an intensive six-month executive education programme designed to strengthen governance and improve public service delivery across Africa.

Participants showcased reform projects developed to tackle real institutional challenges within their ministries, departments and agencies.

With the latest graduation, the alumni network of the programme has grown to more than 300 senior public servants across seven African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Zambia and Tanzania.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, urged the graduates to prioritise meaningful reforms in public service.

“The greatest asset of Africa is Africans. If we understand the true meaning of service, Africa will have a different story to tell,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo added that leadership must focus on long-term impact rather than short-term gains, warning that inefficiencies within public institutions continue to fuel underdevelopment, insecurity and economic challenges.

Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, stressed that the programme represents a deliberate effort to strengthen accountability and institutional performance across the continent.

“Africa’s future depends on the quality of leadership within its public institutions,” he said, noting that transforming governance systems requires leaders who understand complexity and are ready to drive reform from within.

He told the graduates that “the real work begins now,” urging them to execute reform initiatives at scale for lasting impact on citizens’ lives.

The programme, launched in 2021, combines virtual learning with a residential module recently held in Lagos. It culminates in hands-on reform projects aimed at eliminating bottlenecks and improving service outcomes.

According to the foundation, alumni have since initiated hundreds of reforms, with many advancing into higher leadership positions, widening the programme’s influence on public sector performance.

Applications for the sixth cohort are now open to eligible public servants from English-speaking African countries, with a deadline set for April 12, 2026.