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68 Public Servants Complete Third Cohort of AIG Public Leaders Programme

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AIG Public Leaders Programme Class of 2023

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Sixty-eight public servants have completed the AIG Public Leaders Programme (PLP) Class of 2023 after undergoing six months of intensive training conducted by the faculty of the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

The Class of 2023 comprised high-potential public sector leaders from across Africa, including an additional international participant from Kenya.

The graduation ceremony held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Abuja, was graced by notable dignitaries, including the Head of Service, Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan; the Minister of State for Health; the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Mr Olatunji Olaopa; and Social Welfare, Mr Tunji Alausa; and the chairman of Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, among others.

In his opening remarks, Mr Aig-Imoukhuede congratulated the graduating class, noting that these graduates are a step towards building an Africa that can extricate itself from the depths of underdevelopment with capable and empowered public servants.

This understanding, he said, drives the foundation’s unwavering commitment to partnering with the public service to effect lasting change.

He expressed his gratitude to Mrs Yemi-Esan, for her unwavering support of the Foundation's initiatives, noting that it has helped foster a robust collaboration within the service and drive better results.

Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, Mr Olaopa emphasised the importance of transforming Nigeria’s public sector to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

“Key to the transformation of the public sector is the emergence of change agents who are motivated, competent, and sufficiently incentivised to push the change management process forward.

“The AIG Public Leaders Programme plays a fundamental role in producing world-class graduates with the urgently needed dose of innovativeness and administrative capacity to become change managers ready to tackle the critical task of guiding the public sector towards genuine service and innovation,” he said.

To date, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has trained over 700 public servants through various capacity-building initiatives.

Throughout the programme, all participants underwent rigorous training, culminating in the development of capstone projects aimed at driving transformation within their ministries, departments, and agencies.

These projects, now in the implementation phase, showcase the participants’ commitment to effecting positive change within their Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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World Youth Day 2025: NBC Spotlights Young Changemakers Driving Nigeria’s Future

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NBC World Youth Day 2025

Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), the official bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company in Nigeria, is marking World Youth Day 2025 by celebrating the resilience, innovation, and impact of young Nigerians who are transforming their communities and driving inclusive growth.

At the core of this celebration is NBC’s flagship #YouthEmpowered initiative—designed to equip young people with essential life and business skills for the future of work. Since its launch in Nigeria in 2017, the program has empowered over 60,000 youth through hands-on training, digital upskilling, mentorship, and entrepreneurial coaching.

As part of this year’s activities, NBC will premiere a documentary that spotlights inspiring YouthEmpowered alumni who are building businesses, leading change, and shaping brighter futures for themselves and their communities. The documentary will be available to the public on NBC’s official website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms.

Featured in the film is Esohe Ekunwe, who now leads Alpha Connect, a community initiative focused on financial literacy, wellness, and civic engagement. She credits the YouthEmpowered program with not only influencing her business journey but also transforming her mindset.

The documentary also highlights other changemakers such as Doyin Ogunye, founder of Women and Youth Empowerment, whose environmental work in Lagos is tackling waste and creating jobs; and Kingsley Oguchechukwu, founder of Kingsman Luxury in Enugu, who turned a major business setback into a thriving fashion brand.

By shining a light on these stories, NBC reaffirms its commitment to empowering young Nigerians and supporting their vital role in national development.

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Two Nigerian Innovators Shine at 2025 Anzisha Prize Awards Gala

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2025 Anzisha Prize Awards Gala

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

It was a glorious moment for Ms Bunmi Esther Olalude and Ms Christianah Madu, the two Nigerian innovators honoured at the prestigious Anzisha Prize Awards Gala held on August 6, 2025.

They were among the four prize winners who received a $10,000 prize each to further the impactful work they are already delivering in their communities.

Ms Olalude was honoured with the Job Creation Award for creating the most jobs, particularly for women and youth, and she informed the audience, “If I keep on doing what I am doing, I know I can go anywhere and reach my biggest dreams.”

On her part, Ms Madu was awarded the Storytelling Award for her powerful communication and ability to increase visibility for her venture.

Another winner was Ms Cebolenkosi Gcabashe from South Africa, who earned the Revenue Growth Award for his business which showed the greatest increase in profitability.

“As a person from a rural area, this award means the world to me and the community I come from,” he said, urging young business leaders to “start where you are with what you have and the rest will come along with your journey.”

The fourth winner, Mr Tafadzwa Manyanye, received the Systems of Delivery Award for building strong operational systems to scale efficiently, and he advised other aspiring entrepreneurs to “just start,” noting, “whatever you are doing, starting today means you are gearing up for a successful tomorrow.”

The ceremony was part of the Anzisha Entrepreneurship Education in Africa (EEA) Summit, held at the African Leadership Academy campus.

The event concluded with a powerful call to action for business and community leaders to support the continent’s very young entrepreneurs.

The summit brought together policy architects, educators, investors, and business leaders to explore best practices in entrepreneurship education and celebrate the innovative strategies driving youth-led growth.

“Youth entrepreneurship isn’t the backup plan, it’s the blueprint. For too long we have treated entrepreneurship as plan B, the path we take when the real systems fail you. But today has reminded us that youth-led enterprise isn’t what happens when things go wrong, it’s what happens when young people take control of their futures,” Anzisha Prize Managing Editor, Didi Onwu, said.

“We’ve heard from our entrepreneurs who are running digital schools, inventing organic farming alternatives, designing global fashion brands, solving health challenges and more – all before the age of 25. They’re not asking if they’re too young. They’re building anyway,” Onwu added.

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Nigeria Racing to Meet EU’s Cocoa Sustainability Deadline

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Cocoa Processing Plant

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Jumoke Oduwole, has described the regulation of the European Union (EU) on cocoa sustainability, which could impact Nigeria’s export, as both a “formidable challenge and a transformative opportunity” for the country.

On Monday, the federal government and stakeholders in the cocoa value chain met to assess the progress so far made towards complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on sustainability.

She said the regulation was a call to action as it remained a “pivotal moment for Nigeria’s cocoa industry.”

The EU, which accounts for over 60 per cent of Nigerian cocoa exports, had set the December 31, 2020, deadline (later extended to December 2025) for Nigerian cocoa farmers to comply with the regulation which bordered on sustainable cocoa trade under the EUDR Compliance framework.

The deadline applies to the broader EUDR, which includes cocoa and other commodities, and was extended from an earlier date to allow for more preparation time.

Failure to comply could lead to rejection of Nigeria cocoa exports to Europe, among other punitive measures.

Mrs Oduwole said the roundtable was more than a high-level dialogue but a “platform to align national ambition with global standards, as well as a crucial step in ensuring the resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness of our cocoa value chain.”

The Minister pointed out that the the EU deforestation regulation was reshaping the way agricultural commodities are traded globally.

“But beyond that, Nigeria and this administration is at the forefront of climate change and climate justice, and what is important to is the use of our land for sustainability.

“So, without even an external project, this is something that is Nigeria first. As Mr President has put it, always Nigeria first in this issue. We’re thinking first and then joining the rest of the world to see how we’re using our resources for the betterment of everybody.

“So, for Nigeria, Africa’s fourth largest cocoa exporter, it’s both a formidable challenge and a transformative opportunity.

“With the EU accounting for over 60 per cent of our cocoa exports, compliance is not optional. It is an economic, environmental, and developmental imperative. And importantly, we have to support our domestic farmers and investors who are in this space,” she said.

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