By Clement Odum
Realnews Marks 13th Anniversary With High-Level Lecture on Cybersecurity and Illicit Financial Flows
Realnews celebrated its 13th anniversary in 2025 with a thought-provoking lecture and an investiture into its Hall of Fame, held under the theme: “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa.”
The event drew an impressive line-up of dignitaries, including Rev. Father Daniel Kehinde Akande, PhD, Parish Priest of Corpus Christi; Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips, former Chief Judge of Lagos State and former Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission; and the guest speaker, Dr. Adamu Aliyu, SAN, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In her welcome address, the Publisher of Realnews, Ms. Maureen Chigbo, emphasized the importance of long-term national planning. She noted that nations must not wait until 2063 to begin preparing for development, stressing that Africa continues to “bleed dry” due to illicit financial flows, which are increasingly aided by technology. She explained that the theme was chosen to raise awareness and urge governments to strengthen actions that will stem the tide of illicit financial activities.
Chigbo highlighted that the annual lecture series has, since 2014, contributed to nation-building by providing a platform for policy-oriented discussions involving professionals, scholars, technocrats, and decision makers. Previous editions have covered elections, economic issues, security, leadership challenges in Africa, political transitions, developments in the oil and gas sector, African market integration, drug abuse among youths, and illicit financial flows. She noted that the 2025 edition expanded ongoing conversations by linking cybersecurity to the growing challenge of illicit funds flow within the African economy.
She further pointed out that illicit financial flows remain a significant drain on Africa’s economy and a major concern for the global community due to their negative socio-economic consequences. The topic, she said, offers an opportunity for experts to discuss how frameworks such as the Global Corrupt Accountability and Dollar Sanitization Act can strengthen Africa’s ability to curb tax evasion, financial crimes, and illegal capital flight.
According to Chigbo, the United Nations estimates that Africa loses about US$50 billion annually through illicit financial flows—an amount almost equal to what the continent receives as official development assistance. She added that such losses hinder African nations, including Nigeria, from meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing Agenda 2063. She referenced the recent U.S.–Nigeria collaboration that led to the repatriation of US$52 million reportedly siphoned from Nigeria by a former petroleum minister and her associates.
She asserted that journalism, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, plays a vital role in promoting a fair and just society where human rights are protected and citizens can pursue their aspirations freely.
The panel session featured experts including Lasbery C. Oludimu, LLM, MCIArb, ACIS, Vice President of Global Operations/Managing Director, Nigeria, Yellow Card Financial Inc.; Dr. Favour Femi-Oyewole, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Access Bank Plc; and Mr. Abdul Rahman M. Mustapha, Chief Operating Officer, Intelligence and Security Services Sector, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
After the interactive session, several distinguished personalities were inducted into the Realnews Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions and to enhance the organization’s credibility. The 2025 inductees included Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips; Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN; Lasbery C. Oludimu; Dr. Favour Femi-Oyewole; and Mr. Abdul Rahman M. Mustapha.