The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has urged public sector leaders to prioritise accountability, stakeholder engagement and institutional collaboration in implementing reforms, stressing that successful policies must translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
The Foundation made the call at its 2026 Public Sector Reform Convening, themed “Unblocking Reform: From Design to Delivery,” which brought together public sector leaders, alumni and reform stakeholders in Lagos.
The event focused on addressing the challenges that prevent well-designed reforms from achieving their intended objectives, with discussions highlighting the need for effective leadership, adequate resources, communication and sustained accountability throughout the implementation process.
Speaking at the convening, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Executive Vice Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, emphasised that successful reform requires leaders to understand institutional realities, engage affected stakeholders and build the support necessary to sustain change.
“This is not to suggest that every objection to reform is unreasonable or that resistance can simply be overcome through better communication. Rather, effective reform leadership requires an understanding of institutional contexts, a willingness to listen to those affected and a deliberate effort to build the support necessary for implementation.”
The Foundation, a philanthropic organisation focused on strengthening public sector leadership development across Africa, said the convening built on its ongoing engagement with its alumni network, a growing community of public sector reform leaders across the continent.
According to the Foundation, an analysis of alumni reform projects identified stakeholder engagement, communication, organisational culture and collaboration as key factors influencing the success of reform implementation.
The programme featured a keynote address by Olabode Shuageeb Agoro, Lagos State Head of Service, a panel discussion titled “Advancing Reform: Building Buy-In and Coalitions,” and an in-conversation session with experienced reform leaders.
The sessions examined strategies for securing stakeholder support, communicating institutional changes and ensuring that reforms remain effective over time.
Agoro highlighted the need for public sector leaders to address the underlying challenges that hinder reform implementation, noting that resistance could arise from gaps in skills, resources or understanding.
He stressed that leaders must go beyond issuing instructions to ensure that public institutions possess the capacity and support required to implement reforms effectively.
“A capacity gap cannot be resolved by repeating an instruction. Leaders must communicate the purpose of reforms, align institutions around their objectives, provide the resources and capabilities required for implementation, and ensure that accountability continues long after implementation. People always feel better if they are carried along. Nobody wants to feel that they don’t matter. So it is always important to engage at all levels.”
Participants also engaged in an interactive Reform Reality Check and a Reform Solutions Lab, where multidisciplinary groups developed practical approaches to organisational support, stakeholder engagement and collaborative action.
The exercises enabled participants to identify strategies that could be adapted to their respective institutions to address implementation challenges and improve reform outcomes.
The convening forms part of the Foundation’s broader efforts to position its alumni network as a platform for peer learning, strategic dialogue and collaboration among public sector reform leaders.
The Foundation said its work is anchored on the belief that developing exceptional public service leaders is essential to driving meaningful reforms that improve citizens’ lives.
Founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, the organisation supports public service transformation across Africa through financing, strategic advisory services and capacity-building programmes, while collaborating with affiliate organisations to promote sustainable institutional change.
