By Miriam Humbe
The Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, has adopted the Abuja Leadership Declaration, committing member institutions to operational independence in the fight against transnational crimes and other corrupt practices.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity disclosed this in a statement.
The Declaration also committed member nations to transformational leadership, responsible use of artificial intelligence, talent development and stronger regional cooperation in the fight against corruption.
This Declaration was adopted on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters, Abuja, at the end of a two-day NACIWA Mid-Year Leadership Conference 2026, themed: “Transformational Leadership for Effective Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa.”
The motion for the adoption of the Declaration was moved by the President of NACIWA and Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede and adopted by acclamation by Heads of Anti-Corruption Institutions of the fourteen member nations.
The Declaration committed member nations and anti-corruption institutions to institutional independence, integrity and accountability, reaffirming their commitment to resisting undue political or external interference in tackling corruption.
To achieve this, the Declaration considered leadership at the highest institutional level as a strategic determinant of effectiveness in the fight against corruption. It noted that West Africa is confronted with an evolving and increasingly sophisticated corruption landscape characterised by transnational financial flows, technology-enabled crimes, kleptocratic networks and deepening institutional trust deficits.
It further acknowledged the role of “leadership in shaping organisational culture, driving reforms, navigating political complexity, managing institutional reputation and inspiring personnel”.
The anti-corruption institutions also reaffirmed their conviction that “ regional solidarity and high-performance institutional leadership are achievable through candid peer exchange, structured learning and collective commitment”.
On Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, the institutions resolved to accelerate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to enhance intelligence-led investigations, law enforcement and institutional management.
The commitment, however, provides that such technologies must be deployed in line with sound governance principles, robust data protection standards and appropriate ethical safeguards within respective national contexts.
The Institutions also pledged to “strengthen internal systems of integrity, transparency and accountability in order to sustain public trust and confidence in the anti-corruption mandate”.
The Declaration further committed member institutions to fostering organisational cultures rooted in ethics, professionalism, innovation and continuous learning.
It places emphasis on investment in leadership and talent development at all levels, while advancing gender-responsive leadership that promotes equal opportunity and harnesses the full potential of women and other underrepresented groups within anti-corruption institutions.
On transnational cooperation and asset recovery, the institutions committed to strengthening regional and cross-border cooperation in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of transnational corruption.
They further pledged to enhance cooperation in the tracing, recovery, management and return of stolen assets, while supporting the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Guidelines on Borderless Investigation, Asset Tracing, Recovery, and Management within their respective jurisdictions.
The Declaration also requires member institutions, as applicable to their respective national jurisdictions and individual mandates, to translate the outcomes of the Conference into institution-specific action plans with clear priorities, measurable actions and expected outcomes.
Progress on the implementation of the action plans is to be reported to the NACIWA Secretariat by October 2026.
In another major commitment, the institutions resolved to establish leadership development as a permanent strategic pillar of NACIWA’s programmes and activities, supported by a structured framework for follow-up, peer learning and accountability.
The NACIWA Secretariat was further directed to institutionalise the Leadership Conference as a recurring feature of the NACIWA calendar.
Reaffirming regional solidarity, the Heads of Anti-Corruption Institutions from the Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone communities of West Africa committed to working collectively, in a spirit of mutual trust, cooperation and shared responsibility, to strengthen their national institutions, advance regional anti-corruption efforts and uphold the principles of integrity, accountability and good governance.
The Declaration was a product of a two-day Leadership Conference that began in Abuja on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 and ended on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. It was signed by all the fourteen member institutions.
