The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, in partnership with four major African and international organisations, has announced the launch of a pioneering pan-African initiative aimed at transforming public policy across the continent.
The initiative, named LEAD, seeks to make excellence in public governance a driving force for economic development and improved public service delivery throughout Africa.
The Foundation is collaborating with the Africa CEO Forum, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
Despite years of economic growth, many African countries continue to grapple with poor public services that hamper broader development and reduce the quality of life for millions.
LEAD is designed to address this gap by equipping a new generation of African public servants with the tools and knowledge to deliver impactful policy reforms.
Each year, 50 high-potential young civil servants from across Africa will be selected for intensive training. The programme will draw lessons from global case studies including Brazil’s universal healthcare model, India’s Aadhaar digital ID, and Indonesia’s resource transformation strategy.
Beyond training, the initiative aims to build a pan-African network of reform-minded leaders dedicated to making regional projects like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) a success.
The focus will also include collaboration on critical challenges such as climate change, demographic shifts, and industrialisation.
Founder Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede described Africa’s public sector human capital as “one of the continent’s most underutilised resources”.
“Training, equipping, and empowering public sector leaders is a vital mission. Through this initiative, we are joining forces to build a high-performing, citizen-focused public service, driven by results,” he said.
LEAD is expected to reshape how governance and development are approached across the continent, placing public leadership at the heart of Africa’s economic transformation.