The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) have launched a three-day regional forum in Lagos, Nigeria, focused on addressing human trafficking and transnational organized crime from a gender perspective. The event, taking place from December 17 to 19, 2025, brings together stakeholders from law enforcement agencies and financial intelligence units across West Africa.
At the opening session, speakers highlighted the need for coordinated action combining financial intelligence, gender equality initiatives, and security governance. Mrs. Biola Shotunde delivered remarks on behalf of Ms. Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, Director General of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), emphasizing that “trafficking cannot be effectively tackled without integrating anti-money laundering and counter-financing tools.” She described human trafficking as a complex criminal enterprise generating over $150 billion annually.
Representing Mrs. Binta L. Adamu Bello of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Hajara Tunde-Osho stressed alignment with international obligations under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. She noted traffickers’ adaptation to digital technologies and porous borders and called for enhanced regional cooperation using technology to confront both established and new threats.
Dr Jeff Isima’s remarks were delivered by GIABA’s Acting Director of Policy and Research. He provided data showing that children constitute more than 75% of trafficking victims in West Africa and identified poverty, gender inequality, and weak institutions as major factors exploited by traffickers. He advocated for “strong regional coordination, political will, directing resources where they matter and clear accountability mechanisms in turning the tide.”
Dr. Udeme Nsikak Abia spoke on behalf of Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. Dr. Abia highlighted connections between human trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing, and threats to peace in West Africa: “She reiterated Nigeria’s priority to integrate gender perspectives into security governance, ensuring that the experiences of survivors are central to sustainable solutions.” The forum aims to discuss risks linked to women in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing; create a platform for sharing best practices among ECOWAS states on integrating gender into anti-trafficking programs; and build consensus on strategies needed for a gender-responsive approach against organized crime.
The event was formally opened with an affirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS frameworks supporting intelligence sharing and policy harmonization: “She declared the forum open by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS frameworks that promote intelligence sharing and policy harmonization, urging participants to move beyond policy deliberation towards actionable solutions that protect the region’s most vulnerable populations.”
ECOWAS is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to advancing cooperation among its member states through harmonized policies spanning trade, social development, infrastructure integration efforts across 12 countries in West Africa (official website). Its headquarters are located in Abuja, Nigeria (official website), with administrative functions overseen by a commission led by a president (official website). Established following the Treaty of Lagos signed by 15 leaders on May 28, 1975 (official website), ECOWAS continues efforts aimed at improving living standards through stability-focused programs (official website).