No fewer than 32 public servants across Africa with a demonstrated passion for transformation have benefited from the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation’s Scholarship scheme to the tune of £2,000,000 (about N3.564 billion).

For this year, the African philanthropic organisation, as part of its commitment to transforming public service delivery across the continent, has announced Siaka Salami as the 2024 AIG Scholar.

Co-founder and Executive Vice Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, OfovweAig-Imoukhuede, 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 the Foundation, we believe that high-performing public servants are the cornerstone of this transformation.

“By investing in exceptional public servants like Salami, we are ensuring that the future leaders of the public sector are equipped with world-class training that will enable them to deliver innovative and impactful solutions to the challenges the country is facing.”

She disclosed that since 2017, the foundation has awarded scholarships worth approximately £2,000,000 to 32 Africans.

According to her, the annually awarded scholarship provides outstanding African public servants with the opportunity to pursue a Master of Public Policy degree at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, where they gain the knowledge and skills needed to lead and transform public service delivery.

Upon completion of their studies, the scholars are expected to return to their organisations within the public sector and become agents of positive change.

She said the AIG scholarship programme is just one part of a multi-year, multi-billion naira commitment that the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has made to build the capacity of Nigeria’s public servants.

Salami, who currently serves as Assistant Director, Federal Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria was selected after a rigorous and highly competitive selection process that assessed candidates on their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to the public sector in Africa.

As the 2024 AIG Scholar, he will join a distinguished group of public sector leaders who have benefited from this transformative opportunity.

Salami will commence the Master of Public Policy programme in September 2024and expected to return with a wealth of knowledge and experience to contribute to Nigeria’s ongoing public sector reforms.