The Federal Government has officially launched the Leadership Excellence in Africa’s Public Service (LEAPS) Programme, joining Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Zimbabwe in a continent-wide initiative to enhance public sector leadership.
The programme, anchored by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), aims to cultivate visionary, ethical, and transformative leaders capable of driving sustainable development across Africa.
Speaking at the launch event in Abuja on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Lydia Jafiya—represented by Mr. Ibrahim Matazu, Deputy Director, International Development Fund—described LEAPS as a crucial step in redefining leadership in Nigeria’s public service.
“The LEAPS Programme is more than a training initiative; it is a clarion call to reshape the public sector,” she said. “In a country as pivotal to Africa’s development as Nigeria, we need leaders who are strategic, ethical, and innovative.”
The programme targets directorate-level officers, equipping them with leadership skills necessary to address national priorities such as economic diversification and inclusive governance. Jafiya emphasized that the initiative aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and builds on the success of its inaugural rollout in Zimbabwe in 2024.
Senior Advisor to the Executive Secretary for Strategy and Partnerships at ACBF, Mr. Bakary Kone, highlighted that LEAPS is part of the Enhancing Leadership and Governance in Public Financial Management (ELG-PFM) initiative. According to him, the programme is not merely instructional but transformational.
“LEAPS is not a classroom—it is a launchpad,” Kone stated. “We are investing in people and purpose-driven leadership that inspires, influences, and delivers.”
Since its inception, 89 senior officials across five African countries have completed the programme, which concluded its first cohort in June 2025. Feedback from participants indicates significant shifts in leadership mindsets and institutional culture.
Also speaking at the launch, Mr. Adil Ababou, Senior Programme Officer at the Gates Foundation, said the initiative is expected to improve public financial systems, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency.
“This is about ensuring that financial systems work better for the people. LEAPS helps place responsibility in the hands of public finance managers and fosters ownership within government institutions,” he said.
With Nigeria now on board, LEAPS expands its reach to one of Africa’s most influential nations, marking a significant step in the movement to transform governance across the continent.
