The objective of the seminar to be organised between October 21st and 22nd 2025, is to raise the awareness level of religious leaders on the role of AML/CFT framework, especially GIABA’s mandate.

It will also agree on actionable points to promote peaceful co-existence in particular, and in general AML/CFT efforts.

In a press release signed by Mr Timothy Melaye, the Acting Principal Officer, (Communication and Advocacy) GIABA, he said the fight against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) was a collective responsibility of all stakeholders, towards protecting the economies and financial systems from the laundering of proceeds of crime.

He said GIABA recognised the valuable contribution of religious leaders as guardians of faith, and their institutions held tremendous sway amongst their followers.
He explained that fundamentally, one of GIABA’s core Strategic Goals in the 2011-2014 Strategic Plan was the promotion of strategic partnerships with the private sector, civil society and other key stakeholders, to increase awareness of ML/TF to empower citizens to act.

Mr Melaye said recognising the role of religious leaders in Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) and promoting the religious dimension of intercultural dialogues, the United Nations Secretary General enshrined in its Plan of Action on PVE, the importance for faith and community leaders to mentor “vulnerable followers to enable them to reject violent ideologies,” and promote “tolerance, understanding and reconciliation between communities.”

He said the involvement of religious leaders was vital in the fight against ML/TF and must be seen as legitimate as well as effective and sustainable, because religious faith appealed to people on emotional levels for attitudinal changes and it also gave voice to the wide range of community concerns.

In using persuasion as a strategy, religious leaders needed to understand what specific contributions they could and had to make to overcome the menace of ML and insurgent of TF towards transforming public understanding, attitudes and standard setting, Mr Melaye said.

The release said the broad themes of the seminar would include: The Role of Religious Leaders in Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing; Money laundering and terrorist financing risks and vulnerabilities associated with religious organisations, Religious Institutions as a tool for promotion of Peaceful co-existence, Risk of terrorist abuse in non-profit organisations, Promoting Tolerance and Preventing Violent Extremism.

The training will be delivered by technical experts and GIABA faculty, involving presentations, case studies, group work, and sharing sessions.
GIABA is a specialised institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as a Financial Action Task Force -Styled Regional Body, responsible for combating the scourge of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West Africa.

It was established by the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS in the year 2000 with the mandate to protect the national economies and financial systems of member States from abuse and the laundering of proceeds of crime.