AIG-Imoukhuede Foundation, an African philanthropic organisation transforming public service delivery, has announced Isiaka Salami as its 2024 AIG Scholar. The scholarship offers public servants’ opportunity to pursue Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Since 2017, the foundation has awarded scholarship worth £2,000,000 to 32 Africans with a passion for public sector transformation.​ Awardees receive the knowledge and skills to transform public service delivery. On completion of their studies, the scholars return to their organisations and become agents of positive change.

Salami, assistant director at Federal Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria, was selected after a highly competitive selection process that assessed candidates’ academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to the public sector in Africa. As the 2024 AIG Scholar, Isiaka will join other public sector leaders who have benefited from this opportunity.

Mrs. Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, co-founder and executive vice chair of the foundation said: “The Nigerian public sector is at a critical juncture where the need for transformation is not just a matter of urgency but of survival. At Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, we believe high-performing public servants are the cornerstone of this transformation. By investing in public servants like Isiaka, we are ensuring that future leaders are equipped with world-class training to enable them deliver innovative and impactful solutions to challenges of the country.”

The programme is just one part of a multi-year, multi-billion-naira commitment the foundation has made to building capacity of public servants. To date, it has spent over two billion naira and reached over 500 public servants. ‘‘Our goal is to build public servants who can transform the sector from within; public servants who can lead Nigeria towards a future where the sector is synonymous with excellence, integrity, and service to people.’’

Salami will commence the programme next month and return knowledge and experience to contribute to Nigeria’s public sector reforms.