Compliance Institute Admits 1,247 New Members

The Compliance Institute, Nigeria (CIN), has inducted 1,247 compliance professionals into its membership, as regulators and industry leaders renewed calls for stronger ethical leadership and innovation across Nigeria’s public and private institutions.

The inductees were admitted at the institute’s Ninth Induction and Investiture Ceremony held on Saturday at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, a gathering that brought together key actors from the financial, regulatory, corporate and governance sectors.

Speaking at the ceremony, President and Chairman of the Executive Council of CIN, Mr. Pattison Boleigha, said the induction marked a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s compliance ecosystem, noting that the new members had undergone rigorous professional examinations and met the institute’s standards for ethical conduct.

Boleigha disclosed that the institute now has over 7,000 members across Africa, Europe and North America, adding that CIN is targeting a membership strength of more than 9,000 by the end of 2026. He urged the inductees to see compliance as a responsibility that goes beyond regulations, stressing that integrity and professionalism must guide their work.

The ceremony, themed “Shaping the Future of Compliance: Innovation and Ethical Leadership,” also featured the conferment of Fellowship on distinguished professionals recognised for their contributions to ethical governance and institutional integrity.

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos 2, Ahmed Ghali, described compliance professionals as critical partners in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive. He said compliance should be viewed as a culture embedded within organisations, rather than a procedural obligation, especially in an era of complex financial systems and rapid technological change.

Ghali told the new inductees that they would often serve as the first line of defence against corporate misconduct, urging them to demonstrate courage, independence and sound judgement in the discharge of their duties.

Also speaking, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, represented by the Director of the CBN Compliance Department, Mr. Olubunmi Ayodele-Oni, said compliance had evolved into a strategic function essential for trust and competitiveness in modern organisations. He challenged practitioners to move beyond “tick-box” approaches and adopt forward-looking practices that support innovation while maintaining regulatory standards.

Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CIN, Mrs. Bawo Egbakhumeh, said the induction ceremony reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to building capacity and equipping professionals with the skills required to safeguard Nigeria’s financial and governance systems.

Established in 2015, the Compliance Institute, Nigeria, is a professional body dedicated to strengthening compliance practice, promoting ethical conduct and aligning Nigeria’s regulatory environment with global standards. The institute plays a growing role in supporting governance reforms across financial and non-financial sectors of the economy.