Background

The digital era has significantly transformed corporate governance, demanding that boards adopt a more agile, technology-embedded oversight approach. As financial institutions confront dynamic regulatory business environment, cyber threats, and operational complexities, boards must continue to enhance governance structures with real-time risk intelligence, digital resilience frameworks, and compliance automation. A governance model fortified with AI-driven risk analytics, quantum-resilient cybersecurity protocols, and blockchain-enabled regulatory reporting will ensure proactive oversight while reinforcing corporate accountability. The convergence of governance and digital transformation necessitates a paradigm shift in boardroom decision-making, where technology governance and ethical AI adoption become critical pillars for sustainable institutional performance.

Effective risk management in the digital era requires a shift from reactive controls to predictive, AI-augmented risk intelligence frameworks that anticipate vulnerabilities across financial ecosystems. Boards must integrate Strategic Governance, Risk, and Compliance (SGRC) ecosystems with RegTech, SupTech, and machine learning-driven fraud detection systems to mitigate emerging threats while ensuring seamless regulatory alignment. The adoption of dynamic risk appetite frameworks, biometric-enabled compliance monitoring, and algorithmic audit trails enhances institutional resilience, safeguarding reputational integrity in a hyper-connected financial landscape. Compliance intelligence, powered by automation and deep learning models, enables financial institutions to navigate complex global regulations, ensuring real-time adherence to Basel IV, IFRS 17, GDPR, and evolving African financial governance standards.

Strategic IT governance is the cornerstone of high-performance financial institutions, requiring a board-level focus on digital transformation alignment, cloud-based enterprise risk management (ERM), and performance intelligence systems. Boards must oversee the seamless integration of IT service management (ITSM), enterprise blockchain governance, and AI-powered decision support systems to drive operational excellence. Enhanced performance management, leveraging real-time data visualization, digital twin modeling, and cyber-resilient infrastructure frameworks, empowers institutions to navigate disruptive market shifts while fostering sustainable growth.

Therefore, it is against this backdrop that FITC, in collaboration with the West African Bankers Association (WABA), is proud to present the 2025 flagship Programme, with the theme, “Governance in the Digital Age: Strengthening Board Oversight of Risk Management, Compliance Frameworks, and IT Governance for Strategic Performance Management.” The programme specially designed to equip board members and executives with forward-looking governance capabilities, ensuring they lead with digital dexterity, regulatory foresight, and a commitment to performance excellence in an era of digital disruption.

Target Participants:

The programme is designed for the following key leaders:

• Board Members and Non-Executive Directors – Those responsible for strategic oversight, corporate governance, and risk management in financial institutions.
• C-Suite Executives (CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CROs, and CIOs) – Leaders who drive organizational strategy, risk intelligence, and digital transformation.
• Chief Risk Officers and Risk Managers – Executives managing enterprise risk, cyber resilience, and financial stability.
• Regulators and Compliance Officers – Professionals ensuring financial institutions adhere to evolving regulatory frameworks and digital compliance standards.
• Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and IT Governance Leaders – Experts overseeing cybersecurity, IT integration, and digital risk governance.
• Senior Banking Executives and Functional Heads – Leaders in commercial, investment, and central banks responsible for governance, performance management, and operational resilience.
• Audit Committee Members and Internal Auditors – Professionals ensuring transparency, accountability, and risk-based governance.
• Legal and Corporate Governance Professionals – Experts navigating regulatory compliance, corporate ethics, and digital governance frameworks.
• Supervisory and Oversight Bodies – Government and financial sector regulators monitoring financial stability, risk, and compliance across the banking industry.
• FinTech and Digital Banking Leaders – Innovators shaping the integration of governance, technology, and financial services in a digital-driven economy.

Learning Outcomes

The programme is designed to:

• Equip board members and executives with the expertise to embed digital transformation into corporate governance frameworks, ensuring resilient oversight, ethical AI adoption, and data-driven decision-making for long-term institutional sustainability
• Develop expertise in AI-driven risk analytics, quantum-resilient cybersecurity, and risk appetite frameworks to address emerging threats in a connected financial ecosystem.
• Enhance skills in implementing RegTech, SupTech, automated compliance, and blockchain for regulatory reporting, ensuring adherence to global standards like Basel IV, IFRS 17, and GDPR.
• Strengthen board oversight on IT governance, cloud-based risk management, and AI-powered performance systems to optimize operations and sustain a competitive edge in banking.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the Programme, participants will be able to:

• Analyze evolving governance trends and regulatory expectations to refine board oversight mechanisms, strengthen decision-making processes, and align institutional strategies with digital transformation imperatives.
• Assess emerging digital and cybersecurity risks within financial institutions, integrating advanced risk mitigation strategies, data-driven compliance frameworks, and AI-enhanced regulatory oversight mechanisms.
• Evaluate the role of IT governance in enterprise risk management, identifying vulnerabilities, enhancing cybersecurity governance, and ensuring alignment with international regulatory standards.
• Design resilient compliance frameworks that incorporate global financial regulations, cross-border data protection laws, and ethical AI-driven risk management strategies to sustain regulatory compliance and institutional trust.
• Develop a forward-looking governance approach that integrates digital innovation, predictive regulatory trends, and transformative leadership models to enhance institutional agility, risk preparedness, and long-term financial sustainability.

Programme Focus Areas:

1. Transforming Board Governance in the Digital Era: Oversight, Strategic Leadership, and Ethical Decision-Making.
   • Corporate governance frameworks evolving in response to digital transformation and financial sector disruptions
   • Intersection of strategic leadership, regulatory compliance, and technology-driven decision-making in board oversight.
   • Governance agility and institutional resilience as critical factors in board structures and executive management.
   • Ethical complexities arising from artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and digital financial services.
   • Governance failures in digital transformation, regulatory enforcement actions, and board accountability implications.
2. Strengthening Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): A Forward-Looking Approach to Digital and Systemic Risks.
   • Convergence of cyber risks, regulatory expectations, and emerging financial threats in enterprise risk governance
   • Data analytics, predictive modeling, and real-time surveillance enhancing systemic risk oversight.
   • AI, machine learning, and automation transforming financial risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.
   • Interconnected risks emerging in open banking, fintech collaborations, and decentralized finance ecosystems.
   • Board-led risk culture fostering proactive, risk-aware decision-making across all institutional levels
3. Regulatory Compliance in the Digital Financial Ecosystem: Adapting to Evolving Standards and Global Trends.
   • Alignment of governance structures with evolving regulatory expectations in digital banking and fintech innovation
   • AI-driven regulatory technology (RegTech) reshaping compliance monitoring, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms
   • Cross-border regulatory harmonization challenges financial services, digital payments, and cryptocurrency oversight
   • Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors integrating within risk management and compliance frameworks
   • Digital identity verification, biometric authentication, and data protection regulations influencing governance policies
4. Cybersecurity, IT Governance, and Digital Resilience: Safeguarding Institutional Integrity.
   • Intersection of IT governance, cybersecurity risk management, and regulatory expectations in financial institutions
   • Evolving threat landscape with cyberattacks, ransomware, and data breaches targeting financial institutions
   • Strategic alignment of cybersecurity frameworks, risk mitigation strategies, and business continuity planning
   • Governance complexities in third-party risk management, supply chain vulnerabilities, and cloud security risks
   • Quantum computing, AI-driven cyber threats, and next-generation cryptographic security measures shaping IT governance
5. Open Banking, Fintech Innovation, and Digital Governance Challenges Across West African Region
   • API-driven financial ecosystems and embedded finance introducing governance and risk management complexities
   • Digital lending, AI-based credit scoring, and alternative finance requiring enhanced board-level oversight
   • Fintech partnerships, big tech collaborations, and decentralized finance (DeFi) creating governance challenges
   • Regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and ethical decision-making emerging in algorithmic finance
   • Digital asset regulation, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and evolving financial infrastructures reshaping governance
6. Ensuring Accountability in the West African Digital Economy through AI, Data Governance, and Responsible Innovation
   • AI-driven decision-making, regulatory compliance, and algorithmic accountability demanding new governance models
   • Data governance complexities, security frameworks, and compliance with global data protection regulations
   • AI bias, discriminatory algorithms, and automated financial decision-making raising ethical concerns
   • Big data analytics, risk intelligence, and predictive financial modeling influencing regulatory compliance strategies
   • AI governance frameworks advancing fraud detection, financial crime prevention, and anti-money laundering enforcement
7. Resilient Governance Structures, Crisis Management, and Digital Risk Oversight
   • Crisis management, digital disruptions, and financial sector stability posing significant governance challenges
   • Regulatory expectations for cyber incident response, crisis disclosure, and institutional resilience becoming stricter
   • Digital risk oversight, scenario planning, and regulatory stress testing gaining prominence in financial institutions
   • Reputational risks, regulatory breaches, and corporate governance failures threatening institutional sustainability
   • Lessons learned from global financial crises, digital fraud incidents, and governance breakdowns shaping best practices
8. The Future of Governance: Emerging Risks, Strategic Adaptation, and Transformational Leadership.
   • Quantum computing, blockchain ecosystems, and decentralized finance redefining governance complexities
   • Digital identity, biometric verification, and privacy governance influencing financial sector regulation
   • Predictive regulatory trends shaping the future of board oversight, compliance frameworks, and financial regulation
   • Boardroom digital literacy is becoming essential for navigating AI, cybersecurity, and financial technology innovations
   • Governance models transforming in response to disruptive technologies, regulatory reforms, and financial sector evolution