Olukoyede at NACIWA Leadership Conference: Integrity Key to Sustainable Development

At the opening ceremony of the maiden NACIWA Leadership Conference on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the new ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, Mr. Ola Olukoyede cautioned that without integrity in public institutions, the aspirations of economic integration, democratic governance, peace, and sustainable development will remain elusive.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and President of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) underscored that integrity is the bedrock of sustainable progress across nations and institutions in the West African sub‑region.

“Corruption weakens public confidence, diverts resources from essential services, distorts markets, undermines security, and threatens the legitimacy of the state,” Olukoyede declared.

He highlighted the evolving nature of corruption, noting that criminal networks now operate across borders with illicit financial flows moving through multiple jurisdictions in seconds. While digital platforms and artificial intelligence present opportunities for efficiency and intelligence gathering, they also raise new challenges around ethics, accountability, and governance.

Olukoyede explained that the conference was designed as a leadership development programme and a declaration of intent:

“We are signaling that leadership development, institutional capacity, peer learning, and implementation must become permanent features of NACIWA’s programming. West African anti-corruption institutions are prepared to take collective responsibility for strengthening the regional integrity architecture.”

Key Themes of the Conference

Delegates from across West Africa, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Togo, Gambia, and Senegal, are engaging in discussions on:

• Artificial intelligence in leadership
• Institutional independence and accountability
• Digital transformation and intelligence-led enforcement
• Cross-border cooperation
• Asset recovery leadership
• Judicial partnerships

Voices of Leadership

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, delivered the NACIWA Distinguished Leadership Lecture, stressing that West Africa is at a defining moment:

“Citizens are demanding governments that are accountable, economies that are transparent, and public institutions worthy of their confidence. Leadership must uphold the rule of law, strengthen institutional independence, and inspire public trust.”

Other notable speakers included Dr. Abdulahi Bello (Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau), Dr. Olubunmi Ajayi, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Mr. Dein Whyte, and Dr. Arabi D.I.

Looking Ahead

The conference will culminate in the Abuja Leadership Declaration, capturing NACIWA’s shared vision of leadership standards, institutional priorities, and cooperative actions to strengthen anti-corruption effectiveness across West Africa.