Sanni Marvelous
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has unveiled the fifth and largest cohort of its flagship AIG Public Leaders Programme (PLP), a transformative initiative designed to equip Africa’s public servants with the skills and tools needed to lead reforms and deliver measurable impact across the continent.
Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Executive Vice-Chair of the Foundation disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
This latest cohort, described as a major milestone for the Foundation, comprises 72 high-performing public sector professionals drawn from Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Cameroon, Zambia, Egypt, and Tanzania. They emerged after a rigorous selection process and join a growing network of reform-minded leaders working to transform governance in their respective countries.
Delivered in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, the AIG PLP is a world-class executive education programme that provides participants with the global perspectives, leadership skills, and strategic insights required to drive institutional reform and enhance public service delivery.
“This fifth cohort marks a defining milestone in our journey to build a critical mass of reform leaders across Africa. 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,” Ofovwe said.
Since its inception in 2021, the AIG PLP has trained 237 public sector professionals, advancing the Foundation’s goal of developing 3,000 reform-minded leaders by 2030.
Alumni of the programme have initiated impactful reforms such as reducing patient wait times in public hospitals, strengthening financial crime prevention strategies, and digitalising the document tracking system at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Others have improved investigative procedures to better uphold suspects’ rights.
The programme’s impact extends beyond institutional reform. Many graduates have experienced significant career progression, with 62% of surveyed alumni reporting promotions, expanded responsibilities, or leadership opportunities within their organisations. Each participant is also required to develop a capstone project addressing a real challenge in their workplace—projects that have become practical vehicles for reform, improving governance and public service outcomes across Africa.
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.”
Projects like these demonstrate how the AIG PLP empowers leaders to translate training into tangible results—from improving access to healthcare and education to advancing digital governance and justice reform.
This year’s participants come from a diverse range of institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), and the Ministries of Education, Justice, and Foreign Affairs, among others.
Their roles span healthcare, finance, infrastructure, education, and regulatory services, reflecting the programme’s inclusive and cross-sectoral reach.
The 2025 cohort will commence with virtual classes before proceeding to an intensive residential programme in Lagos, where participants will engage with Oxford faculty and peers to deepen their leadership capabilities and refine reform strategies.
Through this partnership with Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation continues to strengthen its mission of transforming Africa’s public sector by empowering leaders who can deliver effective governance and better services for their citizens.
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