Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation Returns as ICSC 2026 Diamond Partner

By Sanni Marvelous

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has returned as Diamond Partner for the 2026 International Civil Service Conference (ICSC), reaffirming its commitment to strengthening public sector reforms and service delivery in Nigeria.

The conference, convened by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, was held from May 20 to 21 at Eagle Square, Abuja, under the theme, “Reforms, Resilience, and Results.”

More than 5,000 participants, including delegates from 16 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America, attended the event.

President Bola Tinubu declared the conference open through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, directing Ministries, Departments and Agencies to deepen digitalised work processes and signalling what organisers described as the end of manual and opaque governance systems.

As Diamond Partner, the conference’s highest partnership category, the foundation contributed to the event through keynote addresses, strategic panel sessions, an alumni-led roundtable and a reform exhibition.

Speaking during the opening keynote on “Public-Private Collaboration for Service Delivery and Innovation,” Chairman of the foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said genuine collaboration between government and the private sector was essential for effective reforms.

According to him, reform should be measured by the quality and efficiency of public services delivered to citizens.
“The true measure of whether government is working or not is whether a passport is issued on time, roads are completed on schedule, hospitals function, pensions are paid without distress, and businesses can be registered without bureaucracy,” he said.

Aig-Imoukhuede also challenged business leaders to work more closely with government institutions to drive national development.

“The most successful nations are those where government and business work together, not against each other, as no government can do it alone,” he added.

A major highlight of the foundation’s participation was the alumni-led roundtable titled “Navigating Public Sector Reform,” which brought together alumni of the AIG Public Leaders Programme, heads of MDAs and private sector stakeholders to discuss strategies for implementing institutional reforms.

Executive Vice Chair of the foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said the partnership reflected the organisation’s long-term commitment to improving governance and public service delivery.

“The Civil Service remains central to national development. Our continued partnership reflects our commitment to supporting public sector leaders with the tools, networks, and capabilities required to drive results,” she said.

The foundation said its participation at ICSC 2026 builds on its longstanding collaboration with the Federal Civil Service through initiatives such as the AIG Public Leaders Programme, the AIG Scholarships and Fellowship Programme, and support for the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025.