Enhancing Digital Transformation in Public Service: Our 2026 Aig-Imoukhuede MPP Scholar
In 2021, Joy Ugonma Olayiwola became the first Nigerian woman to discover an asteroid. This year, the Assistant Director at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) takes on a new frontier as our 2026 Aig-Imoukhuede Master of Public Policy (MPP) Scholar at the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government, where she will explore how policy can drive digital transformation in Nigeria's public service. Read more about Joy's journey and the scholarship supporting it.
Established in 2017, the Aig-Imoukhuede MPP Scholarship gives exceptional Nigerian public servants the opportunity to pursue a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government, equipping them with advanced policy knowledge, international exposure and the practical skills to contribute to public sector reform and better service delivery. With Joy's award, 35 public servants have now received the Scholarship, and past scholars have gone on to apply their learning in areas ranging from healthcare delivery and institutional reform to the fight against human trafficking.
Joy brings more than 17 years of public service experience to Oxford, much of it spent at the intersection of technology and governance. As an Assistant Director at NASRDA, where she also leads the Smart Geospatial and ICT Unit at GeoApps Plus Limited, she has contributed to digital transformation and systems reform initiatives aimed at strengthening public institutions, drawing on expertise in digital systems, data-driven solutions and institutional capacity development. Her work reflects a steady commitment to using technology and better systems to improve how government works for citizens.
Her curiosity extends well beyond the office. As a citizen scientist taking part in international asteroid search campaigns, Joy made the discovery in 2021 that made her the first Nigerian woman to discover an asteroid, an achievement that speaks to the depth of her scientific interest and the persistence she brings to her work.
A graduate of the fifth cohort of the Aig-Imoukhuede Public Leaders Programme, Joy now continues her leadership journey at the Blavatnik School of Government, where she will study how policy, institutions, economics and people interact in public decision-making. She is especially eager to learn alongside public servants from other countries, hearing what has worked elsewhere and considering what could work in Nigeria, before bringing those insights home to advance digital transformation at NASRDA.
Her path from the Public Leaders Programme to the MPP reflects our commitment to supporting public servants at every stage of their growth, as they deepen their leadership and help build stronger public institutions.
Click here to watch how the Scholarship has shaped the leadership journeys of some of our scholars.