By Our Reporter,The Nation

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Chief Executive Officer of iCentra, Taopheek Babayeju, has pledged to drive transformation in Africa’s public sector, saying it is central to development.

Babayeju, who spent 25 years in private, public, and not-for-profit organisations, said his passion stems from his experiences in the public sector, where he witnessed its potential and challenges.

For Africa to unlock its full potential, he noted that public institutions must embrace innovation, technology, and people-centric reforms, as government efficiency and responsiveness impact lives.

“Innovation in public sector is not just about efficiency; it is about building trust, driving inclusive growth, and ensuring no one is left behind,” he said.

He emphasised that transforming public institutions is key to Africa’s growth, stressing that while the private sector sparks innovation, the public sector anchors and scales it for national impact. “This is more than delivering projects, it is nation-building,” he said.

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Through iCentra, a global technology and business solutions firm operating in Abuja and Texas, Babayeju and his team have supported top reforms, including Central Bank of Nigeria’s Enterprise Programme Management Systems to build capacities and support intervention projects; Federal Inland Revenue Service’s deployment of ISO 27001, to strengthen risk management, and boost PMO capacity.

Others are Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited: Developing capacities and supporting Agile culture for improved IT-business collaboration; Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending: Operationalising Enterprise Project Management Office to align with national objectives.

Also, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology: Developing policy frameworks and technology roadmaps to modernise mass transit; Zamfara State: providing consulting for state bonds to strengthen fiscal accountability; and Bauchi State: Deploying an asset registration and valuation system.

Babayeju said iCentra has also delivered transformative projects in Africa, building capacity for public sector employees and equipping them with skills to sustain reforms.