Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has expressed excitement over the election of a Nigerian, David Odu, to the Board of Regents of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The ACFE is headquartered in Austin, United States of America.
Odu, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), becomes the first West African to join the governing body of the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation. This milestone marks a significant moment for African representation within global institutions that shape financial integrity and accountability.
A New Chapter for Nigeria and West Africa
His election opens a new chapter for Nigeria and the wider West African region in the global fight against financial crime. He will be officially inducted at the 2026 ACFE Global Fraud Conference in Boston.
In a letter to ACFE President Mr John Gill, the WTO Director-General felicitated the inductee, wishing him success in his new role. The letter reads: “Thank you very much for your thoughtful letter and for sharing the wonderful news of Mr David Odu (CFE) being elected to the ACFE Board of Regents. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations to him on this well-deserved achievement, and to the association for choosing such an accomplished and dedicated professional for this important role.”
Okonjo-Iweala also expressed appreciation to the ACFE boss for reaching out and for his continued commitment to strengthening integrity and combating fraud worldwide.
Pride for Africa
For Odu, the election represents not just a personal achievement but a moment of pride for Nigeria, West Africa, and the African anti-fraud community. He told The Guardian: “My election to the Board of Regents of ACFE is not just a personal achievement; it is a proud moment for Nigeria, West Africa, and the African anti-fraud community. It demonstrates that African professionals are increasingly shaping global conversations on integrity, compliance, governance and financial crime prevention.”
At a time when financial systems are rapidly evolving and threats such as cyber-enabled fraud and illicit financial flows are becoming more sophisticated, the presence of African professionals within global decision-making bodies is increasingly seen as both necessary and timely. As preparations build towards the Boston conference, attention remains on what this moment represents: not just participation, but presence—and an expanding role for Africa in shaping global conversations.
