Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede headlines civil service summit as foundation returns as diamond partner

Nigerian banker Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede has delivered the keynote address at the 2026 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, calling on public and private sector leaders to build governance systems that work rather than rely on infrastructure projects or privatization to drive reform. The two-day conference at Eagle Square ran May 20 and 21.

Foundation returns as Diamond Partner with reform agenda

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation served as Diamond Partner of the conference for the second consecutive year. The event, organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, attracted more than 5,000 participants and delegates from 16 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. The theme was "Reforms, Resilience, and Results."

Aig-Imoukhuede, chairman of Access Holdings Plc and founder of the Lagos-based philanthropic foundation that bears his name, delivered the opening keynote on public-private collaboration for service delivery and innovation. He told delegates that genuine collaboration for reform is not simply about concessions, privatization or infrastructure projects but about building systems that work.

"The most successful nations are those where government and business work together, not against each other, as no government can do it alone," Aig-Imoukhuede said. He challenged business leaders to work more closely with government institutions to improve service delivery and outcomes.

Tinubu directive elevates digital transformation push

President Bola Tinubu declared the conference open through Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, directing all ministries, departments and agencies to deepen digitalized work processes. The directive was framed as signaling the end of manual and opaque governance in the federal civil service.

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation shaped the intellectual agenda through the keynote, a strategic panel, an alumni-led roundtable and a reform exhibition. The roundtable, titled "Navigating Public Sector Reform," brought together alumni of the AIG Public Leaders Programme, heads of ministries, departments and agencies and private sector stakeholders.

Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, the executive vice chair of the foundation and the banker's wife, said the partnership underscored a long-term commitment to institutional strengthening. "The Civil Service remains central to national development. Our continued partnership reflects our commitment to supporting public sector leaders with the tools, networks and capabilities required to drive results," she said.

Public sector leadership programme expands continental reach

The foundation runs the AIG Public Leaders Programme in partnership with the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government. The six-month executive education initiative has trained more than 250 senior public officials since 2021. Applications opened earlier this year for the sixth cohort, with eligibility extended to civil servants from all English-speaking African countries.

Alumni of the programme have implemented more than 230 reform projects across ministries, departments and agencies on the continent. An internal foundation survey found that 62 percent of graduates were promoted or assigned larger leadership roles after completing the training. The wider foundation partnership with Oxford stretches back to 2017, when it began funding scholarships for Nigerian students pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the university.

Aig-Imoukhuede built his fortune at Access Bank Plc, where he served as group managing director and chief executive before stepping back from operations. He returned as non-executive chairman of Access Holdings in March 2024 following the death of his longtime business partner Herbert Wigwe.