Apply Now: 2025 AIG Public Leaders Programme
Applications are now open for the fifth cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme, a fully funded executive leadership training designed to equip African public servants with the skills and knowledge to drive transformative reforms.
Delivered in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, this prestigious programme empowers public sector leaders to make a lasting impact in their institutions.
Launched in 2021, the AIG Public Leaders Programme (AIG PLP) has rapidly emerged as a cornerstone for advancing public sector excellence in Africa. Over its five-year history, the programme has graduated more than 160 senior public officials from across the continent, equipping them with the skills to drive governance reforms and deliver measurable impact in their institutions.
Programme Overview
The AIG PLP is an executive leadership development initiative that blends world-class academic rigour, hands-on workshops, and collaborative peer learning to strengthen competencies in strategic leadership, policy innovation, and public administration. A defining element is the reform project, where participants design and implement actionable solutions to systemic challenges within their organisations. These projects are closely mentored, ensuring alignment with national development goals and sustainability beyond the programme.
Graduates have spearheaded transformative initiatives that address critical governance gaps. Notable achievements include:
NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency): Development of Africa’s first standardised on-the-job training manual for Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel, enhancing aviation safety and operational efficiency.
NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control): Automation of the dossier review process, resolving a 15-year backlog in regulatory approvals and accelerating access to essential medicines.
Primary Healthcare Revolution: At Lagos’s Isheri Olofin Primary Healthcare Centre, patient wait times plummeted from 82 minutes to 31 minutes—a 62% reduction—through process re-engineering led by an AIG PLP alum.
Digital Governance: Alumni have championed digitisation of over 20 critical public services, reducing bureaucratic delays and corruption risks.
The AIG PLP is not just about training—it’s about rewiring systems and equipping leaders with frameworks like adaptive leadership, data-driven decision-making, and stakeholder engagement to tackle Africa’s most complex challenges.
Who Should Apply?
The AIG PLP seeks visionary public sector professionals committed to driving change. Eligibility criteria include:
Citizenship in any African country and current employment in the African public sector.
Minimum of 7 years of work experience
Grade Level 12 or equivalent (or higher) in public service structures.
Aged between 35 and 50 years.
Applications for the 2025 cohort are open until 1st May 2025. The fully online process requires the submission of a detailed application form here.
Shortlisted candidates undergo a competitive review process, with scholarships covering tuition.
Why Join the AIG PLP?
Beyond skills development, the programme offers:
Peer Network: Connect with a pan-African community of reformers.
Global Faculty: Learn from the faculty at the Oxford Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
Legacy of Impact: Alumni report securing promotions or expanded mandates post-graduation, with their projects impacting millions of citizens annually.