Seventy-two outstanding public servants from seven African countries have joined the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation’s AIG Public Leaders Programme (PLP), an initiative aimed at strengthening governance and accelerating public sector reforms across the continent.
The participants, drawn from Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Cameroon, Zambia, Egypt, and Tanzania, emerged through a competitive selection process that underscores the Foundation’s commitment to nurturing a network of reform-minded leaders driving change across the continent.
Announcing the new cohort on Tuesday, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Executive Vice-Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, said the 2025 class marks a significant milestone in the Foundation’s mission to transform Africa’s public sector through leadership development.
“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 potential delivers the kind of transformation that policy alone cannot achieve”, she said.
The AIG Public Leaders Programme is in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.
The collaboration provides participants access to a rigorous executive education curriculum that blends global perspectives with practical tools for implementing reforms effectively.
According to her, participants commence their learning journey with a series of virtual sessions before advancing to an intensive residential module in Lagos.
“During the residential phase, they engage directly with Oxford faculty and peers to refine their leadership capabilities and design evidence-based reform strategies tailored to their respective institutions.
“Since its inception in 2021, the AIG PLP has trained 237 public sector professionals, many of whom have gone on to champion reforms in key government agencies and ministries.
“The initiative is a cornerstone of the Foundation’s broader goal to develop 3,000 reform-minded leaders by 2030, ensuring a sustained pipeline of capable, ethical, and forward-thinking public servants across Africa”, Aig-Imoukhuede said.
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She noted that graduates of previous cohorts have already made measurable impact. Notable reforms include reducing patient wait times in public hospitals, strengthening financial crime prevention frameworks, and digitalising operational processes at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
A Foundation impact survey revealed that 62 percent of alumni have since earned promotions, expanded portfolios, or assumed new leadership responsibilities within their organisations.
One alumnus reflected on how the experience inspired practical reform in the justice sector: “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.”
