BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
As part of efforts to strengthen the fight against financial crimes, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, has concluded plans to set up the Nigerian chapter of the women’s anti-money laundering body.
Tagged the Women in Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing, AML/CFT/CPF, Network, it is expected to provide a platform for experienced professionals in both the public and private sectors to mentor the next generation.
Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, who is Nigeria's National Correspondent to the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, Hafsat Abubakar Bakari will unveil the body in October.
Nigeria is a member of GIABA, the FATF-style regional body for West Africa, that conducts mutual evaluations of member states’ anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems and supports reforms to improve compliance with international standards.
Bakari said on Wednesday that women are playing critical roles in financial intelligence, criminal investigations, regulation and supervision, compliance, risk management, legal advisory services, financial institutions, fintech innovation and corporate governance.
She disclosed that the network will open up areas of collaboration across institutions and ensure that more women are equipped to take on leadership roles in shaping the future of financial integrity and security.
The CEO stated that the Nigerian chapter will garner women working in financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, regulatory institutions, banks and other financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, academia and development organisations.
Members will benefit from mentorship programmes, technical exchanges, networking opportunities and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening expertise and collaboration across the sector.
The initiative is intended to build a more inclusive and connected community of professionals working to combat financial crimes, given that women have continued to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s financial integrity system across both the public and private sectors.
In a bid to widen the scope of its practice, the NFIU will advocate through GIABA to set up a West African chapter of the Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network.
Bakari pointed out that the regional platform would extend mentorship, professional development, and knowledge-sharing opportunities to women across West Africa while solidifying cooperation among countries to tackle money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.
She enjoined women working across the AML/CFT/CPF ecosystem to participate in the initiative and help build a stronger professional network.
Recall that the Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network was established during Singapore’s presidency of the FATF and has expanded under the organisation’s current leadership to encourage greater participation of women in leadership positions across the global financial integrity community through mentorship, knowledge sharing and professional development.
The initiative reflects Nigeria’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership, professional development, and collaboration across agencies involved in combating money laundering, terrorism financing and the financing of weapons proliferation.
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