Closing Ceremony AIG Public Leaders Programme 2024
This month, we celebrated the graduation of the fourth cohort of our AIG Public Leaders Programme, an executive education programme for public servants, delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government. The closing ceremony, held in Abuja, honoured participants from Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda who completed the intensive training designed to strengthen public service delivery across Africa.
In a significant milestone for public service in Africa, the fourth cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme celebrated its graduation during a closing ceremony in Abuja. This executive education programme, delivered in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford brought together 68 public servants from across Africa, all committed to strengthening service delivery and driving reform in their respective organisations.
The ceremony featured powerful speeches that set the tone for transformative change. Former Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) inspired graduates by declaring, “You are Public Service Scientists. Just as technologists invent groundbreaking tools, you must create systems that ensure health, safety, education, and opportunity reach every citizen—not as a privilege, but as a promise.” You can watch the full video of his speech here.
In a similar vein, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack OON, mni, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, lauded the Foundation’s efforts, emphasising that the programme equips leaders with world-class skills to foster an efficient, ethical, and citizen-centric public sector, a key goal for her administration. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, our Chairman, further stressed the urgency of transformation stating that “Our challenge is not merely about accelerating processes; it is about catching up. Catching up demands more than intelligence—it requires a transformative mindset and a willingness to break new ground. This programme equips public servants to tackle systemic bottlenecks while promoting collective action—the power of us—to drive impactful change across the continent.”
A highlight of the event was the launch of the alumni awards, an initiative designed to reward excellence among programme alumni. Four outstanding recipients were honoured for their contributions to public sector reform. Abraham Oludolapo Ayodeji, Assistant Director at the National Youth Service Corps, received the Reformer’s Award for his groundbreaking policy aimed at combating sexual harassment and enhancing safety. Abayomi Akinyemi, Deputy Director at NAFDAC, was celebrated with the Innovator’s Award for implementing a Dossier Management System that streamlined regulatory processes. Zukiswa Mqolomba, Commissioner (Deputy Chair) at the South African Public Service Commission, earned the Young Leader’s Award for establishing a Hybrid Resource Centre and Library to bolster research and policy development. Meanwhile, Uchechi Edosomwan, Deputy General Manager and Head of the Electronic Communications Department at MMIA, was recognised with the Volunteer Award for her steadfast commitment to the Foundation’s mission.
The event was attended by a distinguished array of dignitaries, including the Senate President’s representative, Senator Gershom Bassey; representatives of the Governors of Delta and Kano States; delegates from NAFDAC; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; and the Heads of Service of Ekiti and Nasarawa States. As the graduating cohort joins a growing network of alumni trained since 2021, the Foundation reaffirms its commitment to nurturing 3,000 public sector leaders by 2030. Applications for the fifth cohort are now open at aigimoukhuedefoundation.org, inviting new leaders to drive impactful reforms and shape the future of governance in Africa.
