By Tunde Oso

As part of her programmes, the 4th President of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), South West Nigeria Chapter, Dr. Lydia Halimat Ajayi has pledged to focus on enhancing practitioners’ professional capacity through continuous education and networking, alongside active engagement in advocacy to promote ethical practice.

Ajayi, who said this when taking office to succeed Dr. Titi Fowokan at the opening of the chapter’s 8th annual anti-fraud conference held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, expressed gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility for the trust placed in her by the members.

She highlighted four key priorities for her tenure: capacity building through workshops and seminars, fostering collaboration with other organizations, raising public awareness on fraud dangers and ethical conduct, and ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment for all members.

Notably, she affirmed that her agenda builds upon the “seven-point agenda” of her predecessor, Dr. Fowokan.

She lauded the support received and acknowledged the hard work and vision of her predecessors, including Prof. Godwin E. Oyedokun, Dr. Don Ogbonnaya, and immediate past president, Dr. Titi Enitan Fowokan, noting the “big shoes” left for her to fill.

Dr. Ajayi outlined her vision for the chapter, emphasizing a focus on “enhancing our professional capacity through continuous education and networking, alongside active engagement in advocacy to promote ethical practice.

Speaking on the conference theme,  “Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics: Harnessing the Potential for Forensic Fraud Investigation, Internal Auditing and Enterprise Risk Management,” a past President of ACFE, Dr. Don Ogbonnaya  emphasized the growing need for organizations to bolster their anti-fraud programmes amidst increasing corporate risks.

He highlighted the critical role of comprehensive fraud detection, ethical conduct, and legal adherence in building long-term sustainability and trust.

“If you see fraud and do not say fraud, you are a fraud. It is crucial for organizations to cultivate a workplace culture rooted in transparency and accountability to enhance ethical behavior, effective fraud prevention, and trust among employees and stakeholders”, he said.