Nigeria’s Interior Minister says Africa’s future depends on public servants who prioritise service, accountability and long-term impact over short-term gains.
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has challenged public servants across Africa to adopt visionary leadership, efficiency and accountability to transform the continent’s public sector.
He made the call in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the 2025 AIG Public Leaders Programme, organised by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.
According to Tunji-Ojo, Africa’s greatest resource is its people, not its natural wealth, stressing that public officials must understand the true meaning of service to unlock the continent’s development potential.
He urged leaders in government to focus on long-term impact and future generations, distinguishing between leadership and statesmanship.
“Leaders think about the next election, but statesmen think about the next generation,” he noted.
Tunji-Ojo also emphasised that Africa cannot overcome challenges such as underdevelopment, insecurity and economic instability without fixing inefficiencies within public institutions.
Highlighting reforms in Nigeria’s immigration system, he pointed to innovations like contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora, which allows applicants to complete biometric verification through mobile devices.
The minister stressed that true leadership is about building strong systems and institutions, not personal recognition.
Also speaking, the chairman of the foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Nigeria does not lack ideas or talent but often struggles with policy implementation.
He explained that the programme aims to equip public servants with leadership skills, courage and enterprise needed to turn ideas into measurable reforms.
Executive Vice-Chair of the foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, added that investing in the training and resources of public servants is essential for improving governance outcomes across Africa.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by Fatima Mahmood, urged participants to apply the lessons learned to strengthen public institutions.
She noted that African governments face increasingly complex challenges, making innovative and accountable leadership more critical than ever.
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