Nigerian-Led Initiative Trains 200+ African Women in Fintech Compliance and RegTech

A Nigerian-founded initiative addressing gender disparity in financial technology has concluded its latest training cycle, equipping more than 200 women across Africa with practical skills in compliance and regulatory technology (RegTech).

The Women in Compliance Collective (WCC), an independent skills development programme based in Nigeria, delivered three intensive bootcamps over the past year in key African fintech hubs. The programme is designed to tackle the persistent underrepresentation of women in compliance, regulatory technology and leadership roles within Africa’s fast-growing fintech ecosystem.

Unlike advocacy-driven networks, the Women in Compliance Collective operates as a hands-on, career-focused pathway into fintech compliance roles. Its curriculum was developed by founder Chinasa Nnaji to reflect African regulatory realities, covering compliance fundamentals, regional financial regulations, ethical technology design and long-term career development within Africa’s financial services sector.

Speaking on the programme’s mission, Nnaji said African women must play an active role in shaping the continent’s fintech future—not merely participating at the margins. She added that the initiative reflects Nigeria’s growing contribution to strengthening Africa’s fintech ecosystem through inclusive access to specialised, in-demand skills.

Participants were drawn from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and other African markets, with many transitioning from non-fintech backgrounds into compliance and RegTech roles. The training exposed them to real-world regulatory and operational challenges specific to African fintech markets, including digital payments, mobile money systems and cross-border financial services.

Adopting a pan-African delivery model, the programme hosted bootcamps in major financial centres such as Lagos, Nairobi and Accra. Organisers said this approach mirrors the increasingly interconnected nature of African financial regulation and the rising demand for diverse perspectives as fintech activity expands across borders.

Through partnerships with African technology organisations and digital inclusion councils, participants gained access to professional networks within the continent’s fintech and digital economy. These collaborations were aimed at strengthening industry linkages and improving participants’ visibility within Africa’s evolving financial services landscape.

Beyond technical instruction, the programme placed strong emphasis on confidence-building, professional presence and career sustainability. Sessions explored Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulations, broader African financial frameworks and how compliance principles can be embedded into fintech product design and operations from inception.

According to the programme’s annual report, a significant number of graduates have since secured roles in compliance, fintech operations and regulatory technology across African fintech firms, banks and regulatory institutions. Organisers say these outcomes demonstrate how targeted skills development can help close critical talent gaps in specialised fintech roles.

The Women in Compliance Collective operates as a volunteer-led, scalable model aimed at strengthening Africa’s wider digital economy. Programme leaders note that the structure is designed to adapt across markets as fintech regulation becomes more complex and central to sustainable sector growth.

As Africa’s fintech industry continues to expand—with Nigeria recognised as one of the continent’s largest and most active markets—initiatives such as the Women in Compliance Collective underscore the role of inclusive skills development in building resilient, ethical and future-ready financial systems. Organisers are currently exploring partnerships in additional markets, including Rwanda, Egypt and Tanzania, as they seek to extend the programme’s impact across the continent.