By Sonde Oluwaseun
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has announced the opening of applications for the sixth cohort of its flagship AIG Public Leaders Programme (AIG PLP), a transformative executive education initiative aimed at strengthening leadership capacity across Africa’s public sector.
Delivered in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, the six-month programme equips high-potential public servants with the strategic insight, tools and networks required to drive meaningful reforms within African public institutions.
Applications are open to qualified public servants from English-speaking African countries and will close on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026.
Since its launch in 2021, the AIG Public Leaders Programme has built a strong track record of measurable impact. According to the Foundation, alumni have collectively designed and implemented more than 230 reform projects across ministries, departments and agencies on the continent.
An impact survey conducted by the Foundation further revealed that 62 per cent of alumni secured promotions or assumed expanded leadership responsibilities after completing the programme, highlighting its role in strengthening both career progression and institutional effectiveness.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Executive Vice-Chair of the Foundation, noted that Africa’s public sector challenges require leaders who can navigate complex systems and implement sustainable reforms.
“Across Africa, the complexity of public sector challenges demands more than good intentions. It requires reformers who understand systems, can navigate institutional realities, and are equipped to implement sustainable change.
The AIG PLP is designed to meet this need,” she said.
Among the programme’s notable impact stories is that of Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, who developed a secure self-reporting tool enabling survivors of domestic and sexual abuse to document incidents safely and preserve evidence until justice can be pursued.
The initiative is one of several reforms spanning healthcare, finance, agriculture and education sectors across Africa.
The AIG PLP adopts a blended learning model, combining virtual sessions with an intensive residential module. The programme is fully funded by the Foundation, covering tuition, accommodation and feeding during the residential component.
Participants receive direct instruction from faculty members of the University of Oxford and are trained in key areas including negotiating in the public interest, harnessing digital technology for governance, strengthening public institutions and upholding integrity in public life.
The programme culminates in a capstone reform project, requiring participants to apply acquired knowledge to real-world institutional challenges, ensuring practical and sustainable outcomes.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early. Further details on eligibility criteria and the application process are available on the Foundation’s official website.
