Olukoyede Joins African Anti-Graft Chiefs At Cape Town Conference To Tackle Corruption

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has joined other heads of anti-corruption agencies across Africa at a high-level conference aimed at strengthening collaborative efforts in the fight against corruption.

The week-long conference, which commenced on Monday, May 5, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa, is jointly convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of South Africa.

In his welcome address, the Head of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit, Andy Mothibi, expressed delight at the impressive turnout of anti-graft leaders and reaffirmed the importance of sustained collective action against corruption across the continent.

Themed “Enhancing Inclusive Participation of State and Non-State Actors to Prevent and Combat Corruption,” the conference features an array of resource persons addressing key challenges and innovative strategies for combating corruption.

Mr. Olukoyede is scheduled to chair a key session on Tuesday, May 6, titled “Strategies and Legal Frameworks for Improving the Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agencies.” During the session, he will outline both internal and external mechanisms to reinforce anti-corruption efforts through the effective application of existing legal frameworks.

A particularly compelling presentation was delivered by Dr. Olu Ajayi on “Closing Africa’s Integrity Gap with AI-Enabled Systems That Induce Behavioural Change.” She emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption, noting that AI can uncover hidden patterns of fraud, minimize human discretion where bribery flourishes, empower citizens to report corrupt practices, and help prevent corruption before it occurs.

The conference will also review country-specific reports on progress in anti-corruption efforts, promoting peer learning and coordinated strategies across the continent. Mr. Olukoyede is expected to present Nigeria’s progress report on Thursday.