Bassey Udo
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, will spearhead the launch of the Nigerian Chapter of the Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network.
Bakari, who is also Nigeria’s National Correspondent to the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), is expected to lead the unveiling of the chapter of the global group on October 6, 2026.
The NFIU said in a statement on Wednesday that the initiative further underscores Nigeria’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership, professional development and collaboration across the Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) community.
The launch, the agency said, aligns with the global Women in AML/CFT/CPF movement established during the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Singapore Presidency, which has significantly expanded under the Presidency of Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico.
“The Network has become an important platform for empowering women professionals by promoting mentorship, knowledge sharing, leadership development and professional excellence,” the NFIU said.
Speaking on the initiative, Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, noted the significant contributions of women across Nigeria’s AML/CFT/CPF landscape, not only within government institutions but also in the private sector.
She said the contributions span financial intelligence, investigations, regulation and supervision to compliance, risk management, legal advisory, financial services, fintech innovation and corporate governance, adding that women have continued to play a strategic role in strengthening Nigeria’s financial integrity framework and advancing the fight against financial crime.
“The Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network will provide a platform for experienced professionals in both public and private sectors, to mentor the next generation, encourage greater collaboration across institutions and ensure that more women are equipped to take on leadership roles in shaping the future of financial integrity and security in the AML/CFT/CPF ecosystem,” she said.
The Nigeria Chapter of the global group is expected to bring together women from Financial Intelligence Units, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, academia and development organisations to pursue the common agenda of promoting anti-money laundering campaigns, countering of financing of terrorism and counter-proliferation financing in the sub-region and beyond.
Through mentorship programmes, technical exchanges, networking opportunities and capacity-building initiatives, the Network would support the growth of a stronger and more connected AML/CFT/CPF community.
As part of a broader regional vision, Nigeria would advocate through the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) for the establishment of a West Africa Chapter of the Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network.
The initiative aims to extend the benefits of mentorship, professional development, knowledge sharing and collaboration to women professionals across the region, while strengthening regional cooperation and capacity in the fight against money laundering, illicit financing and proliferation financing.
The NFIU calls on women working across the AML/CFT/CPF ecosystem to join this important initiative and contribute to building a vibrant network that promotes inclusion, leadership, innovation and excellence in the global fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
