Urging public servants to take responsibility for their actions while in service, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said they should do all they can to fix the system rather than shifting blame for the failures of their predecessors.
Stressing that that has been his personal ideology over the years, the Minister said that a leader’s legacy is defined by the systems left behind not the one he met.
He spoke in Abuja on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the 2025 leadership programme powered by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation for graduates of the class of 2025 annual AIG Public Leaders Programme.
In his keynote presentation titled “Transforming Africa’s Public Sector: Lessons in Visionary Leadership, Accountability, and Economic Renewal", he charged leaders to focus on building strong institutions rather than seeking personal recognition.
Africa’s greatest asset, he said, is its people, noting that public servants must understand the true meaning of service to unlock the continent’s development potential.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also maintained that leadership in public service must focus on long-term impact rather than short-term gains.
Urging public servants to embrace efficiency, accountability and visionary leadership to transform Africa’s public sector, the Minister described the graduates as future change-makers.
He said “The greatest asset of Africa is Africans. If we understand the true meaning of service, Africa will have a different story to tell,”
Differentiating leadership from statesmanship, he urged public servants to ensure their decisions benefit future generations.
Pointing out that leaders often focus on immediate achievements, he said that statesmen prioritise the next generation.
The Minister also highlighted several reforms and innovations underway in the Ministry of Interior, driven by a business-unusual approach and aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The initiatives, he said, demonstrated how bold leadership and institutional reforms can transform governance and service delivery.
Dr Tunji-Ojo harped on transformational leadership to break away from outdated systems and traditions.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.
He urged participants of the 2025 cohort to apply the knowledge gained to transform public institutions across Africa.
“As these dedicated public servants conclude their journey in the programme and prepare to implement real reforms, it is my hope that they will champion results-driven leadership, shifting deliberately from inefficiency to impact, and transforming inherited challenges into lasting change that improves lives across Africa” he stated .
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, represented by Mrs Fatima Mahmood, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, commended the initiative and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to strengthening public institutions.
She lamented that African institutions face increasingly complex governance challenges.
The Head of Service 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.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said that Nigeria is not lacking intelligence or policy ideas but often struggles with implementation.
The foundation’s leadership programme, he said, focuses on strengthening the capacity of public servants to implement reforms and translate ideas into measurable progress.
According to him, effective leadership requires character, courage and the spirit of enterprise to deliver solutions and drive change within the public sector.
On her part, the Executive Vice-Chairman 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.
Part of the highlights of the events are various award categories, ranging from Innovative and Volunteer awards, awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in leadership positions in the public and private service sectors.