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Foundation convenes public sector leaders and reform stakeholders in Lagos to address barriers between policy design and implementation
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Analysis of reform projects identifies stakeholder engagement, communication, organisational culture and collaboration as critical to successful delivery
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Lagos Head of Service says capacity and resource gaps cannot be addressed by directives alone
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Convening seeks to strengthen collaboration and ensure public sector reforms deliver tangible improvements for citizens
October 16, (THEWILL) – The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has moved to close the persistent gap between the design and delivery of public sector reforms by bringing together government officials, reform leaders and other stakeholders to identify practical ways of overcoming institutional barriers to implementation.
The Foundation, a philanthropic organisation focused on strengthening public sector leadership and institutional capacity across Africa, made the push at its 2026 Public Sector Reform Convening held in Lagos on October 14.
Themed “Unblocking Reform: From Design to Delivery,” the convening focused on the institutional and human factors that can determine whether reform initiatives move successfully from policy conception to implementation.
The event brought together public sector leaders, alumni of the Foundation’s programmes and reform stakeholders, building on its work with a growing network of public sector reform leaders across Africa.
According to the Foundation, an analysis of reform projects undertaken by its alumni identified stakeholder engagement, communication, organisational culture and collaboration among key factors shaping implementation outcomes.
Executive Vice Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said successful reform requires leaders to understand the institutional environment in which policies are implemented and build sufficient support 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,” she said.
Delivering the keynote address, Lagos State Head of Service, Olabode Shuageeb Agoro, identified capacity, resources and understanding as some of the underlying issues that could hinder implementation.
“A capacity gap cannot be resolved by repeating an instruction,” Agoro said.
He said leaders must communicate the purpose of reforms, align institutions with their objectives and provide the resources and capabilities necessary to translate policies into results.
According to him, accountability must also continue beyond the initial implementation stage, while officials and other stakeholders affected by reforms should be adequately engaged.
“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,” he added.
The programme also featured a panel session on “Advancing Reform: Building Buy-In and Coalitions,” alongside a conversation with experienced reform leaders focusing on stakeholder engagement, communicating change and sustaining reforms over time.
Participants took part in an interactive Reform Reality Check and Reform Solutions Lab, working in multidisciplinary groups to develop practical responses to organisational, stakeholder and collaborative challenges confronting reform implementation.
The sessions also enabled participants to identify approaches that could be adapted to their respective institutions.
The Foundation said the convening forms part of a broader effort to position its alumni network as a platform for peer learning, strategic dialogue and collaboration among public sector reform leaders.
The objective is to strengthen the ability of reform leaders to move initiatives beyond policy design to effective implementation capable of producing better public services and outcomes for citizens.
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Background
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation was established by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede on the belief that developing effective public service leaders is critical to driving meaningful and sustainable reforms across Africa.
Its interventions focus on strengthening public service delivery through leadership and capacity-building programmes, financing reform initiatives, and providing strategic advisory support.
The Foundation also works with affiliate organisations and public sector institutions to support long-term institutional change, with its alumni network serving as a growing community of reform leaders working across the continent.
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