AIG Visiting Fellowship
Building world-class leaders for Nigeria's public sector
In Partnership with University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government
The AIG Visiting Fellowship is awarded to exceptional Nigerian public sector executives who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and made significant contributions to the public sector. It allows these outstanding public sector leaders to deepen their knowledge and understanding of critical public policy challenges facing Nigeria.
The programme is designed for visionary reformers who demonstrate integrity, innovation, and measurable results in governance, public policy, or service delivery. Through access to Oxford’s academic resources and global networks, Fellows are equipped to explore complex governance challenges, refine their reform ideas, and develop practical solutions that strengthen institutions and enhance public sector performance in Nigeria.
Upon returning home, they continue to drive systemic reform—mentoring colleagues, advancing effective governance practices, and contributing to the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation’s mission of building a more capable, accountable, and transformative public sector for Nigeria.
Fellows codify their learning and experience through policy papers and briefs, and share their findings through a workshop or lecture, some of which you can watch on this page.
Our Fellows
2026 Fellow
Professor Fatima Kyari
Professor Fatima Kyari is the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), where she leads reforms in medical education, health workforce governance and professional regulation. A clinician, academic and public sector leader, she has worked across healthcare delivery, research, policy and institutional reform.
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Before joining the MDCN, Professor Kyari was the pioneer Director of the Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT), University of Abuja. She also serves as Chair of the Africa Region of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and has led collaborative initiatives to strengthen glaucoma care, research and clinical practice across Africa.
As the 2026 Aig-Imoukhuede Visiting Fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, she will examine how Nigeria’s expansion of medical schools can be implemented as a strategic public sector reform that strengthens health workforce capacity, safeguards educational quality and improves governance of medical education. Her work aims to generate practical policy recommendations for managing large-scale reforms in health and medical education.
2025 Fellow
Mrs Funke Adepoju
Before joining ASCON, Mrs. Adepoju was the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), where she led groundbreaking reforms in urban water governance. Among her achievements were the introduction of performance-based contracts, licensing and service provider guidelines, groundwater abstraction regulations and tariff-setting frameworks; She also institutionalised the Lagos International Water Conference (LIWAC), which positioned Lagos as a hub for global dialogue on sustainable water and sanitation solutions.
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Since her appointment as Director-General in 2025, Mrs. Adepoju has spearheaded a bold reform agenda aimed at repositioning ASCON as Nigeria’s premier national reform accelerator. Key initiatives under her leadership include the digitalisation of training delivery, modernisation of campus facilities, redesign of competency-based curricula, and the forging of strategic partnerships with governments, academia, and development partners.
With her track record as a reform advocate, transformational leader, and capacity development strategist, Mrs. Adepoju continues to inspire excellence in public service and remains a strong voice for innovation in public service.
2018 Fellow
Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru
Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru served as Executive Chairman of the Federal Revenue Service (FIRS) and Chairman of the Joint Tax Board, which she led meritoriously for two consecutive terms. In this role, Ifueko was the first female Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Chairman of the Joint Tax Board comprising representatives of all taxing tiers of Government in Nigeria.
2017 Fellow
Justice Mrs Georgina Wood (Retired)
Justice Mrs Georgina Wood was the first woman to occupy the position of Chief Justice of Ghana. She is currently a member of the Council of State of Ghana – a body established under the country’s Constitution to counsel the President in the performance of his functions. She also serves on the boards of international justice and human rights organisations such as the Global Justice Center.
Professor Attahiru Jega
Professor Attahiru Jega, former Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent Electorial Commission (INEC), was the inaugural Africa Initiative for Governance Fellow of Practice. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, and Kano and has published extensively on Nigerian politics, elections, democratisation, and transition to democracy.
2016 Fellow
Eligibility criteria
Position/Level:
– Must hold a position within the leadership cadres of Director Generals and Chief Executive Officers in the Public Service
Service Longevity:
– Minimum of six years before mandatory retirement age
Demonstrated Leadership:
– Must demonstrate measurable impact in public service delivery within the past five years
– Must provide quantifiable evidence of implementing successful reforms or improvements in their area of responsibility
Strategic Influence:
– Must oversee strategic initiatives in at least one of the following key sectors: Health, Education, Agriculture, Finance, Energy, Justice, Defence, and Security.
– Demonstrate experience in cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
Educational Qualification:
– Minimum of a master's degree or equivalent professional qualification
– Evidence of continuous professional development in the last three years.
Organisational Endorsement:
– Must obtain formal endorsement from a respected Public Sector Leader (Head of the Civil Service, Minister, Governor, etc.)
Ethical Standing
– No pending disciplinary actions
– Clean and outstanding record of service
– Must pass security clearance
Past Lectures
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Watch Lecture
Watch Lecture