… hails the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation on empowerment of African leaders
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has emphasised the need for both the public and the private sector to invest more in capacity building to boost efficiency in service delivery, thereby growing the economy.
Speaking at the 2025 closing ceremony of AIG Public Leadership Programme in Abuja, the Minister explained that in the journey of public service, “we must understand that we cannot break the shackles of underdevelopment, we cannot break economic shackles, and we cannot break the shackles of insecurity if we don’t break the shackles of inefficiency in public service.
“So, we must understand that any public service that is not built on the altar of efficiency will end up being deficient, and when you talk about structural deficiency, you never can tell how it will hurt you. We have seen former governors, and we have seen former ministers refuse to do the right thing, and they themselves fall victim to their own misdeeds.
“In public service, I tell you, we have the most brilliant and intelligent people you can get in Nigeria; the few inefficiencies that we have within our system basically go down to people not understanding problems before profiling solutions.”
Tunji-Ojo stated that “we must start, go back and do what we call an organisational capacity audit. You must identify the mistakes. So, even for us as leaders, are we asking a question that our people are not equipped to answer? You must ask yourself.
“It is an act of wickedness to ask somebody to give you what he doesn’t have. If a public officer does not know what he/she is supposed to be doing, and you expect them to be efficient, then you will be daydreaming. So we must understand the principle of what is and what ought to be,” he explained
Tunji-Ojo commended the Aig Imoukhuede Foundation for investing much in the training of leaders across Africa.
“The Foundation has put so much money into an intangible, but everlasting asset, knowledge transfer t’s intangible, but it’s forever” the Minister noted.
On his part, the Chairman of Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said, “It is a distinct honour to stand before you all as we celebrate the graduation of the fifth cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme (PLP).
“This is not just another ceremony; it is a milestone in our collective journey to build a stronger, more effective public service in Africa. Your presence here today speaks volumes about your commitment to governance, leadership, and national development.
“We gather today not merely to mark the closing of Cohort 5, but to reaffirm a conviction: that Africa’s future depends on the quality of leadership within its public institutions. As the fifth cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme concludes, each cycle deepens our understanding of why this journey began, and why it must continue.
“We often hear that this is Africa’s moment. But let us speak plainly: it may well be Africa’s test. In a world of accelerating uncertainty, economic realignments, geopolitical tensions and technological disruption, our continent faces immense pressure. Our combined population is young and dynamic, our resources vast, our potential enormous. Yet we remain 54 sovereign nations, fragmented and still playing catch-up in a global order that moves at relentless speed.”
He said the challenge is not mere acceleration; “it is catching up decisively, collectively, and without delay, through competence, coordination, and execution that delivers real results for citizens.
‘That is precisely why the AIG Public Leaders Programme exists. It was created to equip high-potential public servants with the tools, mindset, and networks needed to meet this test head-on and drive genuine transformation across the continent.
“Not through grand declarations or endless rhetoric, but through disciplined execution: identifying what truly delivers value to citizens, removing bottlenecks, making the necessary trade-offs, standardising excellence where it works, and scaling it relentlessly so that impact reaches lives at scale.
“In the early days of Nigeria’s post democratic consolidation, it became evident to me that meaningful transformation does not happen without a strong, capable public service. Markets are essential, but they cannot substitute for public-sector leadership.
“Look at the nations that have risen rapidly, strong institutions, disciplined execution, and leaders willing to make hard choices were not optional; they were foundational. We cannot afford mediocrity.
“Africa needs public sector leaders who understand that impact demands trade-offs: saying no to the expedient when the necessary is uncomfortable; prioritising long-term institutional health over short-term applause; choosing collaboration over silos; and recognising that reform is not rhetoric, it is operational, disciplined, and often lonely work,” he said.
The Chairman charged the graduating cohort, “over these months, you have engaged deeply, sharpened your strategic thinking, confronted uncomfortable realities, built cross-border alliances, and designed reform projects that address real systemic issues. Well done. But certificates and applause fade quickly. What endures is impact.
“When you return to your roles, the only question that matters is this: Has service to citizens improved because of your presence? Have processes become more efficient, institutions more resilient, lives more dignified? If the answer is no, then the title, the position, the training, all of it loses meaning.
“You are not here to manage the status quo. You are here to change it. Leadership demands courage to say no when compromise is easier, resilience when resistance is fierce, and the humility to collaborate, recognising the power of “me” in personal conviction, but the greater power of “us” in collective action.”
One of the graduand, Muhammad Sani, told Tribune Online that the Programme has equipped participants to be more efficient in service delivery.