A Nigerian-founded initiative focused on addressing gender disparity in financial technology has concluded its latest programme after training and mentoring more than 200 women in compliance and regulatory technology across Africa.
The Women in Compliance Collective, an independent skills development programme based in Nigeria, delivered three intensive bootcamps over the year in multiple African cities, targeting the underrepresentation of women in compliance, regulatory technology and leadership roles within Africa’s fast-growing fintech sector.
Unlike advocacy-focused networks, the programme is structured as a practical, hands-on pathway into fintech compliance roles. Its founder, Chinasa Nnaji, developed a curriculum tailored to African regulatory realities, covering compliance fundamentals, regional regulatory frameworks, ethical technology design and long-term career development within the continent’s financial services ecosystem.
Speaking on the programme’s objectives, Nnaji said African women must play a central role in shaping the fintech sector, not merely participate in it. She noted that the initiative reflects Nigeria’s broader contribution to strengthening Africa’s fintech ecosystem through inclusive access to specialised knowledge and opportunity.
Participants were drawn from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and other African countries, with many transitioning from non-fintech backgrounds into compliance and regulatory technology 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.
The programme adopted a pan-African approach, delivering bootcamps in major financial hubs such as Lagos, Nairobi and Accra. Organisers said this reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of African financial regulation and the growing 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 designed to strengthen industry linkages and improve participants’ visibility within Africa’s financial services landscape.
Beyond technical training, the programme emphasised confidence building, professional presence and career sustainability. Sessions addressed Nigerian Central Bank regulations, broader African financial frameworks and how compliance considerations can be embedded into fintech product design and operations.
According to the programme’s annual report, many graduates have since moved into compliance, fintech operations and regulatory technology roles within African fintech firms, banks and regulatory institutions. Organisers described the outcomes as evidence that targeted skills development can help close critical talent gaps in specialised fintech roles.
The initiative operates as a volunteer-led model aimed at strengthening Africa’s wider digital economy. Programme leaders say the structure is designed to be scalable and adaptable across African markets, particularly as fintech regulation becomes more complex and central to 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 highlight how skills development and inclusion can support more resilient and ethical financial systems. Organisers are now exploring partnerships in additional markets, including Rwanda, Egypt and Tanzania, as they seek to extend the programme’s impact across the continent.
