Ireti Oyefuga

Reshaping workplace culture, strengthening institutional performance through recognition and reward System

“I was inspired to apply for the AIG Public Leaders Programme because of the programme’s focus on developing effective leadership skills in public servants. I am passionate about professionalism at work, providing effective service and good governance and I saw the programme as an opportunity to be equipped with the knowledge and tools to amplify my impact and contribute more meaningfully to effective service delivery.”– Ireti Oyefuga, Deputy Director (Admin.), Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) 

Driven by a passion for good governance, Ireti Oyefuga, Deputy Director (Administration), Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM)  applied for the AIG Public Leaders Programme  

“I saw the programme as an opportunity to be equipped with the knowledge and tools to amplify my impact and contribute more meaningfully to effective service delivery,” she affirms. 

Since completing the AIG Public Leaders Programme, she has continued to apply its lessons to her work and leadership journey. In April 2025, she was appointed Zonal Coordinator at NACETEM, a recognition of her strong work ethic and consistent excellence. 

“The AIG PLP strengthened my confidence to lead with integrity and impact. It taught me that consistent excellence always speaks for itself.” 

Oyefuga’s reform project, “Introduction of a Recognition and Reward System for Effective Service Delivery at NACETEM,” has reshaped workplace culture and strengthened institutional performance. 

Before her intervention, staff surveys revealed low motivation, limited training opportunities, and weak performance incentives, all of which hindered productivity. In response, she designed and implemented a Recognition and Long Service Award Day, celebrating 40 long-serving and high-performing employees. The initiative rewarded their dedication, promoting a culture of motivation and professional pride. 

The results were immediate and lasting. Staff morale and productivity rose sharply, teamwork improved, and NACETEM formally adopted the Recognition and Reward System as a permanent part of its human resource policy. The programme also paved the way for a new Performance Management System (PMS) that ties future awards to measurable impact and merit, institutionalising accountability and performance excellence. 

Her reform project also inspired the Director-General of NACETEM to sustain the Recognition and Reward Programme in 2026, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to merit-based performance. 

Building on the leadership, innovation, and stakeholder engagement lessons she gained from the AIG PLP, she went on to lead the rehabilitation and digital transformation of NACETEM’s South West Zonal Office. This included installing solar systems, upgrading infrastructure, and introducing high-speed internet, through creative resource mobilisation and partnerships. 

Together, these reforms have transformed NACETEM into a more efficient, innovative, and motivated institution, better equipped to deliver quality science, technology, and innovation training that supports Nigeria’s development goals.