‎AIG-Imoukhuede Foundation Expands Programme Transforming Africa’s Public Sector

Godswill Michael
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‎The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has unveiled the fifth and largest cohort of its flagship AIG Public Leaders Programme (PLP), marking another milestone in its mission to build a new generation of reform-minded public servants across Africa.
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‎The initiative, delivered in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, is designed to equip public officials with the skills, tools, and global perspectives needed to drive institutional reform and deliver measurable impact.
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‎This year’s cohort brings together 72 high-performing public sector professionals drawn from Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Cameroon, Zambia, Egypt, and Tanzania. They were selected through a rigorous process and will join a growing network of public leaders committed to strengthening governance and transforming service delivery across the continent.
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‎In a statement on Tuesday, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Executive Vice-Chair of the Foundation, described the latest intake as a defining milestone. “This fifth cohort marks a defining milestone in our journey to build a critical mass of reform leaders across Africa,” she said. “We are seeing proof every day that investing in people, in their capacity and leadership potentially, delivers the kind of transformation that policy alone cannot achieve.”
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‎Since its launch in 2021, the AIG PLP has trained 237 public sector professionals, supporting the foundation’s goal of developing 3,000 reform-minded leaders by 2030. Many alumni have implemented impactful change projects, including initiatives to reduce patient wait times in public hospitals, strengthen financial crime prevention, digitalise document tracking at the Central Bank of Nigeria, and improve investigative procedures that uphold suspects’ rights.
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‎The Foundation noted that these projects demonstrate the programme’s real-world value and ripple effect across the public sector. Beyond reform outcomes, the PLP has also catalysed career growth among participants. A survey showed that 62% of alumni had experienced promotions, expanded responsibilities, or new leadership opportunities within their organisations—evidence of the programme’s transformative influence on both individuals and the systems they serve.
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‎Each participant is required to design and implement a capstone project addressing a real challenge within their organisation, applying lessons and leadership tools gained from the programme. One alumnus shared, “I have taken proactive steps towards exploring and potentially integrating alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms within the justice system, laying the groundwork for reforms that could streamline legal processes and enhance access to justice.”
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‎Such stories, the Foundation explained, underscore the broader impact of the programme—equipping African leaders with the tools to strengthen governance, improve healthcare, expand education access, and advance digital transformation. The ripple effects of these reforms, it added, are already being felt in communities across the continent.
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‎This year’s cohort includes participants from key institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), and the Ministries of Education, Justice, and Foreign Affairs, among others. Their professional backgrounds span healthcare, finance, infrastructure, education, and regulatory services, reflecting the programme’s cross-sector reach and its commitment to inclusive leadership development.
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‎Participants will begin with virtual sessions before proceeding to an intensive residential programme in Lagos, where they will engage with Oxford faculty and peers to refine their reform strategies and strengthen their leadership capabilities.
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‎The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, focuses on transforming public service delivery and expanding access to quality primary healthcare across Africa. It supports reform initiatives through financing, consulting, and capacity-building for public sector institutions and also funds affiliate organisations such as ABC Health, the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), and the Nigerian Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF).
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‎Through the AIG Public Leaders Programme, the Foundation continues to demonstrate how strategic investment in leadership can redefine governance and accelerate development across Africa.
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