ENHANCING NIGERIA’S CIVIL SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY: CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Walking into the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel on Wednesday morning of 20th February 2024, filled with excitement like other participants, the 6-month long AIG Public Leaders Programme ran in conjunction with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford was coming to an end.

The smiles on the faces of participants and the various camera poses revealed how happy everyone was. On the flip side, it was time to be released back to our respective organisations, where we were expected to make an impact and add value to the system.

The decorations in the hall made for a calming, but contemplative ambience, with its walls that echoed the principles and values of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation. Contemplating the past 6 months of teachings and interactions with guest speakers, and how to stay inspired despite facing challenges, occupied my thoughts. One thing on the walls caught my eye – the motto of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation – “Closing the Gap Between Africa and the Rest of the World”.

Although not a new sight, this time around it resonated deeply within me. Once upon a time, the rest of the world walked side by side with Africa, what led to the existing gaps in technology, institutions, income, gender, infrastructure, and research gaps among others?

Closing these gaps will be crucial and necessitate partnerships and collaborations, like the current one between the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and BSG, University of Oxford. It would also require reviewing existing policies or creating new ones that will be fit for purpose. While these approaches can offer essential support; however, historical interventions have often taken a top-down approach, concentrating mainly on improving organizational structure without adequately developing the capacity of employees. This presents peculiar challenges of reduced motivation and participation from employees as well as a lack of ownership of existing issues.

I recall hearing someone say: “Enhancing organisational structure without a corresponding development of the human resource will result in an expensive organisation. While developing the human resource without enhancing the organizational structure will lead to an inefficient organisation.”

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation recognises that active and effective public service is vital in providing tailored solutions to African challenges and bridging the gap with the rest of the world. Despite the abundance of policies and talented individuals in Nigeria and Africa, the key competitive advantage lies in public leaders taking ownership of challenges, processes, and solutions. This approach ensures that they lead with conviction, and actively participate in governance at all levels, and it enhances innovation as well as efficiency in public service delivery.

From the knowledge gained and mental shifts, I experienced while participating in the programme, I can say that, in its aspirations to inspire public leaders to take ownership of governance and reach their full potential, foster partnerships/collaborations that can bring about comprehensive and sustainable solutions, I am convinced that the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is restoring the ethos of public service delivery and addressing the fundamental reasons behind the gap between Africa and the rest of the world.

Written by Madu Ibrahim

Flight Instructor (Helicopter), Ministry of Defense, Nigerian Navy
AIG Public Leaders Programme Cohort 3