By Chimezie Godfrey
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has announced plans to launch the Nigeria Chapter of the Women in Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) Network on October 6, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen women’s leadership in the country’s financial crime prevention ecosystem.
Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU and Nigeria’s National Correspondent to the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the initiative reflects Nigeria’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership, professional development and collaboration across institutions involved in combating money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing.
Bakari explained that the Nigerian chapter aligns with the global Women in AML/CFT/CPF movement established during the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Singapore Presidency and expanded under the presidency of Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico.
She noted that the global network has become an important platform for mentoring women professionals, promoting knowledge sharing, developing leadership capacity and advancing professional excellence.
The NFIU boss said women have continued to make significant contributions across Nigeria’s financial integrity system, serving in financial intelligence, law enforcement, regulation, supervision, compliance, risk management, legal advisory, financial services, fintech innovation and corporate governance.
“The Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network will provide a platform for experienced professionals in both the public and private sectors to mentor the next generation, encourage stronger collaboration across institutions and ensure that more women are equipped to assume leadership roles in shaping the future of financial integrity and security,” she said.
According to her, the Nigeria Chapter will bring together women from Financial Intelligence Units, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, academia and development organisations.
She added that members of the network would benefit from mentorship programmes, technical exchanges, networking opportunities and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s anti-financial crime framework.
Bakari further disclosed that Nigeria would champion the establishment of a West Africa Chapter of the Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network through GIABA to deepen regional collaboration against money laundering, illicit financial flows, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
She called on women professionals across the AML/CFT/CPF ecosystem to join the initiative and contribute to building a stronger, more inclusive and innovative network dedicated to safeguarding financial integrity in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.