Last night we had the honour of hosting the former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan for a conversation on the theme of ‘What should the UN be doing in the 21st Century?’

In front of a captive audience of over 200 students and members of the public in the open forum of the School, Annan talked about his experience at the United Nations and how to improve governance through three pillars: peace and security, sustainable development and rule of law. He also answered questions from the audience about his time as Special Envoy for Syria, about the refugee and migration crisis in Europe, and the principle of responsibility to protect.

We were also delighted to conclude the event with an important announcement: a new five-year partnership with the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), based on the shared purpose of building good governance and public leadership. The AIG aims to improve governance and transform public sector performance by working with governments and other partners and was founded and is chaired by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede – a lawyer, banker, investor and philanthropist.

From 2017, the AIG will fund:

• Five AIG Scholarships each year for students from Nigeria and Ghana (and other West African nations) to join the MPP together with classmates from across the globe. The candidates have to demonstrate exceptional academic and leadership skills and intend to return to the public sector in Africa after completing their studies.
• One AIG Visiting Fellowship, an academic fellowship scheme that will bring a senior official or practitioner working in or with government and who is resident in West Africa, and who can demonstrate an outstanding contribution to public policy.

Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, said:  “We are deeply grateful to the Africa Initiative for Governance for partnering with us. The Blavatnik School of Government shares with the AIG a clear purpose – to transform government through effective leadership and better governance.  The shared programme will enable excellent West African scholars, from all backgrounds, to study for an MPP and will also bring senior practitioners from the region to the School as AIG Visiting Fellows – providing opportunities to help drive transformational public sector leadership across the African continent.”

Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of the Africa Initiative for Governance, said:  “The AIG Scholarship and Fellowship initiatives are scalable interventions aimed at tackling Africa's intractable challenge of poor public sector leadership. I am confident that with our partnership with Oxford University's prestigious Blavatnik School will become fertile ground for growing future statesmen and women who will change my continent for good.”

Expressing support for initiatives that foster leadership and education, Kofi Annan said:  "Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development. Scholarships open the gates to more young minds to contribute to this process."

For more information about the AIG partnership and scholarships, download the press release below.

Watch the recording of the event Kofi Annan In Conversation with Ngaire Woods.

Photos from Fisher Studio