The chief executive officer of iCentra, Taopheek Babayeju, has restated his commitment to driving transformation in Africa’s public sector, describing it as central to national development.
Babayeju, who has spent 25 years working across private, public, and not-for-profit organisations, said his passion stems from his early 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 directly impact millions of lives.
“Innovation in the 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 about nation-building,” he said.
Babayeju said that beyond the shores of Nigeria, iCentra has also delivered transformative projects across Africa, building the capacity of tens of thousands of public sector employees and equipping them with skills to sustain reforms.
Through iCentra, a global technology and business solutions company with operations in Abuja, Nigeria, and Texas, USA, Babayeju and his team have supported several high-profile reforms in Nigeria and beyond. Some of the recent projects include: Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN): Setting up Enterprise Program Management Systems, building capacities and supporting intervention projects. Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS): Deploying ISO 27001, strengthening risk management, and improving PMO capacity. Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC): Developing capacities and supporting Agile culture that improved IT-business collaboration. Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc): operationalising the Enterprise Project Management Office to align resources with national objectives.
Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT): Developing policy frameworks and technology roadmaps to modernise mass transit. Zamfara State Government: Providing consulting for state bonds to strengthen fiscal accountability. Bauchi State Government: Deploying an asset registration and valuation system, just to mention a few.
