…Champions Systemic Change in Africa 

Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has graduated the fourth cohort of its AIG Public Leaders Programme, an executive education programme for public servants.

The programme, according to a statement by the Foundation, at the weekend, was delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government.

It said participants from Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda who completed the intensive training designed to strengthen public service delivery across Africa, were honoured, at the end of the programme, in Abuja.

Former Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), was quoted as telling the participants, “You are Public Service Scientists. Just as technologists invent groundbreaking tools, you must create systems that ensure health, safety, education, and opportunity reach every citizen—not as a privilege, but as a promise.”

He urged them to leverage their training to dismantle systemic barriers and reimagine equitable service delivery in Africa.

The Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, emphasised the urgency of transforming Africa through the public services, which play critical roles in service delivery in the developed nations of the world.

He said, “Our challenge is not merely about accelerating processes; it is about catching up. Catching up demands more than intelligence—it requires a transformative mindset and a willingness to break new ground. This programme equips public servants to tackle systemic bottlenecks while promoting collective action—the power of us—to drive impactful change across the continent.” 

In her speech, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, commended the Foundation’s role in reshaping governance.

Her words, “The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has shown commitment to building a public sector that prioritises citizens. This programme equips leaders with world-class skills to drive innovation and align with our vision of an efficient, ethical, and citizen-centric workforce.” 

As part of the programme, participants developed and began implementing reform projects to tackle systemic challenges within their Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), driving improvements in public service delivery. 

Dignitaries in attendance included the Senate President, represented by Senator Gershom Bassey; representatives of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Governors of Delta and Kano States; the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); and the Heads of Service of Ekiti and Nasarawa States. 

Graduating participants will join a growing network of alumni who have been trained since 2021.

The Foundation said it remained committed to its mission of training 3,000 public sector leaders by 2030, equipping them with the skills needed to drive impactful reforms.

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is a public sector-focused philanthropic organisation founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede to improve the lives of Africans through transformed public service delivery and increased access to quality primary healthcare.

 The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation accomplishes its mission by supporting the reform initiatives of public sector entities, providing financing, consulting support, and capacity-building programmes and resources for the public sector workforce. The Foundation provides funding and strategic support to drive the work of affiliate organisations such as ABC Health, the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) and the Nigerian Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF).