Nigeria’s Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, has been elected as the Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the African Association of Accountants General (AAAG). His election was confirmed during the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place on July 28, 2025, in Accra, Ghana.
The AGM brought together top financial officials, including Accountants General from the 22 African countries that are currently members of the AAAG. The key focus of the meeting was to discuss progress and set new goals in the area of public financial management (PFM) across the continent.
A statement from Nigeria’s Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Bawa Mokwa, said Ogunjimi’s emergence as Deputy Chairperson is a clear recognition of Nigeria’s growing leadership in promoting fiscal transparency, accountability, and modern accounting standards in Africa.
With this new role, Ogunjimi is expected to play a major part in helping the Association drive its strategic direction and improve public financial management practices among African countries. He will work closely with the Chairperson and other committee members to push for reforms in public sector accounting, encourage peer collaboration, and promote the adoption of digital and innovative tools in government financial systems.
As Deputy Chairperson, Ogunjimi is also expected to help build partnerships between member countries and international organisations interested in supporting Africa’s financial reforms. His responsibilities include helping to coordinate technical assistance, encouraging professional development, and strengthening systems that improve how public funds are managed.
The African Association of Accountants General was established in July 2023 with support from the African Union Commission. It was created as a platform for Accountants General from different countries to come together, share knowledge, and set common standards for handling public finances.
Since its launch, the AAAG has been working to harmonize accounting practices across the continent and promote best practices that ensure efficient and transparent use of public resources. The Association also provides room for countries to support one another through technical assistance and peer learning.
Nigeria’s new position on the Executive Committee is expected to boost the country’s public finance reform efforts, especially in the areas of digital accounting systems, improved audit processes, and stronger internal controls in public spending.
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s financial sector have welcomed the news. Many see it as a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda, especially under the leadership of Ogunjimi, who was recently appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Acting Accountant General of the Federation. Since taking office, he has made efforts to improve budget implementation, reduce leakages in public spending, and improve transparency in government financial operations.
Speaking shortly after the announcement in Accra, Ogunjimi expressed gratitude to his peers for the confidence placed in him and promised to work hard to support the goals of the Association. He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to improving public financial management and collaborating with other African nations to build strong, accountable financial systems.
Observers say that Ogunjimi’s new role will not only strengthen Nigeria’s voice in shaping fiscal governance across Africa but also offer valuable opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing with other countries facing similar challenges.
With Nigeria now represented at the leadership level of the AAAG, there is growing optimism that the country will continue to lead by example in the drive for greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of public funds.
