Great Expectations as Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation Returns as Diamond Partner for 2026 ICSC
Oru Leonard
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has returned as Diamond Partner for the 2026 International Civil Service Conference (ICSC), reinforcing its commitment to public sector reform and improved service delivery across Nigeria and Africa.
The conference, convened by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, held from May 20 to 21 at Eagle Square, attracted over 5,000 participants, including delegates from 16 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. The event focused on the theme: “Reforms, Resilience, and Results.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by George Akume, officially declared the conference open and directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to deepen digitalised work processes, signalling what he described as the end of manual and opaque governance systems.
As the conference’s highest-level partner, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation played a central role in shaping the intellectual and reform agenda of the event through keynote sessions, strategic panels, alumni-led roundtables, and a reform-focused exhibition.
Chairman of the Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, delivered the opening keynote on “Public-Private Collaboration for Service Delivery and Innovation,” where he stressed the need for stronger partnerships between government and business to drive sustainable reform.
According to him, meaningful collaboration goes beyond privatisation or infrastructure concessions and should focus on building systems that work effectively for citizens.
“The true measure of whether 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,” he said.
Aig-Imoukhuede also challenged private sector leaders to become more involved in governance reform efforts, noting that no government can succeed alone.
“The most successful nations are those where government and business work together, not against each other,” he added.
One of the highlights of the Foundation’s participation was the alumni-led roundtable titled “Navigating Public Sector Reform,” which brought together alumni of the AIG Public Leaders Programme, heads of MDAs, and private sector stakeholders to discuss practical pathways for implementing reform initiatives.
Executive Vice Chair of the Foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said the organisation remains committed to supporting public sector leaders with the tools, networks, and institutional capabilities needed to deliver results.
“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 stated.
The Foundation’s engagement at the 2026 conference builds on its longstanding collaboration with the Federal Civil Service through capacity-building initiatives such as the AIG Public Leaders Programme, the AIG Scholarships and Fellowship Programme, and strategic support for the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25).
Founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation focuses on improving public service delivery across Africa through financing, strategic advisory support, and capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening institutions and driving sustainable reform.
