The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called on public servants to adopt efficient, visionary leadership 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.
He said Africa’s greatest asset was not its natural resources but 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 are Africans. If we can understand the true meaning of service, then Africa will have a different story to tell,” he said.
According to him, leadership in public service must focus on long-term impact rather than immediate gains, urging officials to ensure that their decisions benefit future generations.
Tunji-Ojo distinguished between leadership and statesmanship, noting that while leaders often focus on short-term achievements, statesmen think about the next generation.
The minister said Africa would not overcome underdevelopment, insecurity and economic challenges without addressing inefficiency within public institutions.
Citing reforms introduced in Nigeria’s immigration system, he said transformational leadership required breaking away from outdated systems and practices.
He also highlighted the introduction of contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora, which allows applicants to complete biometric verification using their mobile phones.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised that leaders should focus on building strong systems rather than seeking personal recognition, adding that the condition of institutions left behind defines a leader’s legacy.
He urged participants of the 2025 programme to apply the knowledge gained to drive reforms and transform Africa’s public sector.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Nigeria does not lack intelligence or policy ideas but often struggles with implementation.
According to him, the focus of the foundation’s leadership programme is to strengthen the capacity of public servants to implement reforms and translate ideas into measurable progress.
“You can have someone who passes all the necessary intellectual tests but lacks the character, courage and enterprise required to implement solutions,” he said.
Aig-Imoukhuede added that the programme was designed to equip civil servants with the leadership skills needed to turn ideas into practical results.
“For me, one key lesson from interacting with public servants over a long time is that it is not for lack of intelligence that we are held back. It is about turning our innate ability into real, tangible capacity to do the job,” he said.
In her remarks, the Executive Vice-Chair of the foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said supporting public servants with training and resources was critical to improving governance outcomes across Africa.
“There is no greater honour than to serve the citizens of your nation. If we support public servants with capacity building and resources, they will be able to implement reforms that make life better for citizens,” she said.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, also commended the initiative and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to strengthen public institutions.
Represented by Mrs Fatima Mahmood, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Walson-Jack noted that African public institutions face increasingly complex challenges that require innovative and accountable leadership.
“Programmes such as this play a critical role in equipping public officials with the skills and perspectives needed to deliver improved governance and better outcomes for citizens,” she said.