By Chinedu Okorie
The Federal Government, in partnership with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, has renewed calls for accelerated digital transformation across Nigeria’s civil service, urging Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to abandon outdated manual systems in favor of transparent, technology-driven governance.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu—represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume—directed MDAs to deepen digitalized work processes as part of broader reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.
The conference, hosted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, drew more than 5,000 participants, including delegates from 16 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. This year’s theme, “Reforms, Resilience, and Results,” underscored the urgency of modernizing governance structures.
Public-Private Collaboration
Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, emphasized that meaningful reforms require stronger collaboration between government and the private sector. Delivering a keynote address titled “Public-Private Collaboration for Service Delivery and Innovation,” he argued that governance must be measured by tangible outcomes for citizens.
“The true measure of whether the government is working or not is whether a passport is issued on time, roads are completed on schedule, hospitals function, pensions are paid without distress, and businesses can be registered without bureaucracy,” Aig-Imoukhuede said.
He further urged business leaders to partner more closely with government institutions, noting that “the most successful nations are those where government and business work together, not against each other.”
Foundation’s Role
Returning as Diamond Partner for the conference, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation highlighted its commitment to promoting innovation, collaboration, and institutional capacity within the civil service.
The foundation hosted an alumni-led roundtable session titled “Navigating Public Sector Reform,” which brought together alumni of the AIG Public Leaders Programme, heads of MDAs, and private-sector stakeholders to discuss strategies for sustainable reforms.
Executive Vice Chair Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede reaffirmed the foundation’s long-term commitment:
“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.”
The foundation’s engagement builds on existing collaborations with the Federal Civil Service, including the AIG Public Leaders Programme, the AIG Scholarships and Fellowship Programme, and support for the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025.
Founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, the foundation continues to champion governance reforms across Africa through financing, strategic advisory services, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening public service delivery.