AIG Public Leaders Programme
Applications for the 2023-24 AIG Scholarships is now open.
In collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, this unique programme offers senior public servants an immersive executive education experience aimed at strengthening the skills they need to build cultures of excellence, effectiveness and integrity throughout the institutions they lead. Programme graduates are able to enhance their countries’ development through improved governance and public policy creation.
The application window closes on Thursday, 14th of April 2022.
Programme Details
The AIG Scholarships were launched in 2017 to provide a unique learning opportunity for exceptional West Africans to pursue a Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Since 2017, twenty-nine (29) scholarships worth over £50,000 each have been awarded to future public sector leaders who have demonstrated a passion for the public sector.
AIG Scholars spend the year at one of the world’s top universities, gaining knowledge and skills from the outstanding academic faculty and expert practitioners and interacting with other future public sector leaders from around the world. After completing their degree, Scholars return to their countries and use their learnings to bolster policymaking, support reforms and contribute to their nation’s development.
From 2022, the AIG Scholarships will only be open to applicants already working in the civil service. Applicants should be aged between 25 and 45, with strong intellectual capacity, demonstrable leadership qualities and a passion to contribute to the development of the Nigeria’s civil service.
GOVERNING IN TIMES OF CHANGE
Recognising the speed and depth of change in today’s world, these sessions offer participants a stronger set of communication skills and a fresh understanding of the role of pragmatism, principle, framing, and inclusion as fundamental parts of public leadership in challenging times.
HARNESSING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Exploring the myriad challenges of today’s ever-changing technological developments, these sessions look at how to manage technology. Participants will examine, among others, questions of cybersecurity, and threats newly enhanced by artificial intelligence, without losing sight of public interest.
DECISION-MAKING
While senior decision-makers pride themselves on using the best information and advice available, there is plenty of evidence that our decisions are too often coloured by our psychological biases. Participants will explore framing bias, confirmation bias, overconfidence bias and sunk-cost bias, as well as examples of groupthink. They will consider the consequences for decision-making and test some simple techniques to overcome these biases in individual and group decisions.
INTEGRITY
These sessions will explore how public leaders can build and promote integrity within their own organisations and what it means for an organisation to be trustworthy. Participants will examine how difficult it can be to recognise integrity, the factors that cloud our ethical decisions, and the long-term damage to one’s leadership that can flow from a single misjudgement.
ORGANISATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Participants will explore what it means to lead an effective organisation. They will consider who sets an organisation’s goals and values, and what counts as high performance. They will also look at the trends and cycles in organisational reform, and what evidence there is to support strategies of radical reform or incremental improvement. Participants will examine the tools that different administrations use to improve performance, including target-setting, data generation and outsourcing.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
Candidates will be chosen based on their public sector experience and achievements, proven leadership qualities, intellectual abilities, and personal motivations and ambitions.
To be eligible for consideration for the award of 2023-24 AIG Scholarships:
- Applicants must be a Nigerian currently working in the public sector (Ministries, Departments, Agencies & Parastatals) at both Federal and State levels
- Aged between 25 and 45 years
- Have a minimum of seven (7) years (combined private & public sector) work experience
- Have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of second-class upper qualification
- Gain admission into the Blavatnik School of Government following success in the AIG shortlisting process
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Academic distinction and leadership potential are essential priorities for selection.
Only applicants shortlisted for the next stage of the selection process will be contacted, and any inquiries regarding individual application status will not be responded to.
All applications must be submitted via the online application portal using the link below. Applications sent via post or submitted in person will NOT be accepted.
Candidates who emerge as finalists selection process will be required to apply directly to the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, for admission.
Finalists offered admission to the Master of Public Policy will be considered by the school for the AIG Scholarship.
PROGRAMME BENEFITS
Financial Support – Funding will be provided for tuition, living expenses, and a stipend for a summer project.
Coaching and Mentoring – Extensive coaching and mentoring will be offered to help scholars navigate their time at Oxford and make the most of the experience.
Career Development – AIG Scholars will receive full support to map out their career development paths and access opportunities that are aligned with their areas of interest as they leverage the knowledge gained at Oxford
Work Experience – AIG Scholars will embark on summer placements during which they will gain additional knowledge and experience of their areas of interest and build their global networks.
Previous AIG Scholars
AIG Scholarships 2022-2023 Recipients
- Ayodele Awi
- Taiwo Olawole
AIG Scholarships 2021-2022 Recipients
- Buari Abiodun (Nigeria)
- Ujunwa Esther Ojemeni (Nigeria)
- Salifu Abdul Razak (Ghana)
- Wuraola Susan Babalola (Nigeria)
- Godwin Mark (Nigeria)
AIG Scholarships 2020-2021 Recipients
- Adejoke Are (Nigeria)
- Murjanatu Mohammed Audu (Nigeria)
- Uchechukwu Nwokediuko (Nigeria)
- Chioma Oparadike (Nigeria)
- Folasade Osho (Nigeria)
- Victoria Udom (Nigeria)
AIG Scholarships 2019-20 Recipients
- Adebola Babafemi (Nigeria)
- Erobu Onyekachukwu (Nigeria)
- Mohammed Nasir (Nigeria)
- Onasanya Hakeem (Nigeria)
- Sarpong Kwame (Ghana)
AIG Scholarships 2018-19 Recipients
- Adegbite Adetola (Nigeria)
- Ajimoti Blessing (Nigeria)
- Amuquandoh Prosper (Ghana)
- Chinedu-Okeke Louisa (Nigeria)
- Nneli Tobechukwu (Nigeria)
AIG Scholarships 2017-18 Recipients
- Emokiniovo Akpughe (Nigeria)
- Efosa Trevor Edobor (Nigeria)
- Abdul-Fatawu Z. Hakeem (Ghana)
- Chukwunonso Iheoma (Nigeria)
- Emmanuel Taiwo (Nigeria)