Aigboje, Ofovwe: Government Is Measured By Delivery, Not Intentions

For many Nigerians, a government's worth is measured by its performance, not by its promises. While public service is often seen as inefficient and bogged down in bureaucracy, thousands of civil servants work tirelessly to keep institutions running and services accessible. Since 2022, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation’s Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Award has honored more than 130 civil servants for their exemplary service, alongside the Memorial Lecture, which promotes values-driven leadership and institutional reform.

In a joint interview, Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede discuss the significance of recognition, leadership, and institutional culture in nation-building.

The Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Award, now in its fifth year in 2026, has grown beyond a tribute to its eponymous mother, whose values of integrity, compassion, discipline, and devotion to others have become its guiding principles. Five years after its inception, the award serves as motivation for public servants and demonstrates that there are far more exceptional individuals in Nigeria's civil service than commonly perceived.

The interview delves into the role of values, leadership, and recognition in nation-building, emphasizing that people tend to rise or regress to the standards society celebrates.

Aigboje reflects on a 2022 Federal Civil Service Awards Ceremony, where he felt the awardees deserved higher cash values than what they received. He approached the then Head of Service, donating NGN500,000 to each awarded civil servant. When a retired Permanent Secretary commended his gesture, suggesting the renaming of the award in memory of Aigboje’s mother, the foundation was born.

The award's growth has reinforced the importance of celebrating and emphasizing the values that civil servants uphold in their daily work, which often goes unrecognized.

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, during the inaugural Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Lecture, highlighted that leadership is not solely a function of rank but of influence and service. Aigboje agrees, emphasizing that leadership can emerge from individuals not in positions of authority. He argues that meaningful progress often comes from those willing to take responsibility when others wait for instructions.

The foundation aims to identify and trust these individuals, rewarding initiative instead of merely time spent in a role. They believe that culture and human motivation should be given equal attention in the reform agenda, as lasting reform hinges on people feeling valued, supported, and equipped to deliver results.