By Angela Atabo
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has urged public servants to embrace visionary leadership, efficiency and accountability to transform Africa’s public sector.
Tunji-Ojo made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the 2025 AIG Public Leaders Programme, organised by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.
According to him, Africa’s greatest asset is its people, stressing that public servants must understand the true meaning of service to unlock the continent’s development potential.
“The greatest asset of Africa is Africans. If we understand the true meaning of service, Africa will have a different story to tell,” he said.
The minister said leadership in public service must focus on long-term impact rather than short-term gains, urging officials to ensure their decisions benefit future generations.
Tunji-Ojo distinguished between leadership and statesmanship, noting that while leaders often focus on immediate achievements, statesmen prioritise the next generation.
He said Africa would not overcome challenges such as underdevelopment, insecurity and economic difficulties without addressing inefficiencies within public institutions.
Citing reforms in Nigeria’s immigration system, the minister said transformational leadership required breaking away from outdated systems and traditions.
He highlighted the introduction of contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora, enabling applicants to complete biometric verification using their mobile phones.
Tunji-Ojo said leaders should focus on building strong institutions rather than seeking personal recognition, adding that a leader’s legacy is defined by the systems left behind.
He urged participants of the 2025 cohort to apply the knowledge gained to transform public institutions across Africa.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Nigeria did not lack intelligence or policy ideas but often struggled with implementation.
According to him, the foundation’s leadership programme focuses on strengthening the capacity of public servants to implement reforms and translate ideas into measurable progress.
He said effective leadership required character, courage and the spirit of enterprise to deliver solutions and drive change within the public sector.
In her remarks, the Executive Vice-Chair of the foundation, Mrs Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said supporting public servants with training and resources was critical to improving governance outcomes.
She said capacity building would enable public officials to implement reforms that improve the lives of citizens.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, commended the initiative and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to strengthen public institutions.
Walson-Jack, represented by Mrs Fatima Mahmood, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, said African institutions face increasingly complex governance challenges.
She added that leadership programmes such as the initiative help equip public officials with skills and perspectives needed to deliver improved governance and better outcomes for citizens. (NAN)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
