NFIU Unveils Nigeria’s First Women Anti-money Laundering Network

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), is set to unveil the Nigeria Chapter of the global Women in Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) Network, in a move aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in the fight against financial crimes.

The chapter, scheduled for inauguration on October 6, 2026, will be championed by the 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.

Speaking on the initiative, Bakari said Nigerian women have continued to make remarkable contributions across the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing architecture, both in the public and private sectors.

According to her, women are playing strategic roles in financial intelligence, investigations, regulation and supervision, compliance, risk management, legal advisory services, financial institutions, fintech innovation and corporate governance.

She said the new network would create opportunities for experienced professionals to mentor younger women, foster stronger collaboration among institutions and prepare more women for leadership positions within Nigeria’s financial integrity ecosystem.

“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,” Bakari said.

The initiative is part of the global women in AML/CFT/CPF movement established during the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Singapore Presidency and expanded under the leadership of FATF president, Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico.

The network promotes mentorship, leadership development, professional excellence and collaboration among women working to combat financial crimes.

The Nigeria Chapter will bring together women from financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, regulatory institutions, financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, academia and development organisations.

The network will drive mentorship programmes, technical exchanges, capacity-building initiatives and professional networking designed to strengthen expertise and cooperation in tackling money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

Beyond Nigeria, the NFIU also announced plans to champion the establishment of a West Africa Chapter of the Women in AML/CFT/CPF Network through GIABA.

The regional platform is expected to deepen collaboration among women professionals across West Africa, enhance knowledge sharing and build stronger institutional capacity in combating illicit financial flows and other transnational financial crimes.

The NFIU called on women working across the AML/CFT/CPF ecosystem to join the initiative, describing it as a unique opportunity to promote inclusion, innovation, leadership and excellence in safeguarding the integrity of the financial system.