Abuja: Space agency director wins 2026 Oxford MPP Scholarship

Assistant Director Joy Ugonma Olayiwola of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Aig-Imoukhuede Master in Public Policy (MPP) Scholarship at the esteemed University of Oxford. Sponsored by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, this scholarship will afford Olayiwola the opportunity to pursue a Master of Public Policy at Oxford’s renowned Blavatnik School of Government.

An alumnus of the Foundation’s Public Leaders Programme, Olayiwola boasts over 17 years of dedicated public service experience, specializing in digital systems, data-driven solutions, and institutional capacity development. She currently leads the Smart Geospatial and ICT Unit at GeoApps Plus Limited. The Aig-Imoukhuede MPP Scholarship, initiated in 2017, is designed to provide exceptional Nigerian public servants with advanced policy knowledge, international exposure, and practical skills to bolster public-sector reform and service delivery.

With this selection, the Foundation has now bestowed the scholarship upon 34 Nigerian public servants to study at Oxford. Past recipients have utilized their training to impact various sectors, from healthcare delivery and institutional reform to combating human trafficking. Speaking on behalf of the Foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, the Executive Vice Chair, emphasized the scholarship's role in supporting public servants and enhancing their ability to tackle complex challenges.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Olayiwola anticipates learning alongside peers from diverse nations and exploring policy approaches that could be tailored to Nigeria's unique context. This scholarship is a collaborative effort between the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, forming part of a broader leadership development initiative that includes the Public Leaders Programme and Visiting Fellowship.