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Nigeria’s Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, has achieved a significant milestone in continental public financial management with his election as the Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the African Association of Accountants General (AAAG). His emergence as deputy chair was confirmed at the AAAG’s Annual General Meeting held on July 28, 2025, in Accra, Ghana.
The high-level meeting, which brought together Accountants General from 22 African countries, focused on strengthening public financial management (PFM) systems across the continent. Ogunjimi’s election reflects Nigeria’s growing influence in fiscal leadership and the country’s sustained commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and innovation in the management of public funds.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Bawa Mokwa, the election is “a recognition of Nigeria’s pivotal role in championing public finance reforms and upholding fiscal discipline in Africa.”
The AAAG, which operates under the auspices of the African Union Commission, was established in July 2023 to serve as a pan-African platform for Accountants General to harmonize accounting standards, share best practices, and strengthen public sector financial administration. With 22 member states, the association continues to advance cross-border cooperation and technical support to enhance fiscal governance structures across Africa.
As Deputy Chair of the Executive Committee, Ogunjimi is now tasked with helping shape the AAAG’s strategic direction. His responsibilities include:
Supporting the implementation of modern, technology-driven PFM systems across member countries
Driving regional collaboration on public finance reforms
Promoting peer learning and standardization of public accounting practices
Facilitating innovation in government financial management
Assisting in setting the agenda for fiscal transparency across the continent
Ogunjimi’s leadership experience—particularly in overseeing Nigeria’s complex public finance system—positions him as a key figure to push forward the AAAG’s mandate. His involvement will likely influence the development of more harmonized, efficient, and transparent accounting systems in Africa.
Nigeria’s representation at the executive level of AAAG is widely regarded as a diplomatic and technical win for the country. It comes amid ongoing domestic efforts to reform the Nigerian public finance architecture, increase fiscal discipline, and digitize budget implementation processes. The role not only elevates Nigeria’s voice in continental policy discussions but also enables the country to influence standard-setting for PFM reforms.
Stakeholders believe that Ogunjimi’s election could attract technical partnerships and capacity-building opportunities that would further enhance Nigeria’s public sector financial reporting.
The African Association of Accountants General was created to serve as a unifying framework for national public accountants across the continent. By encouraging transparency, accountability, and harmonized reporting standards, the AAAG seeks to strengthen trust in government institutions and ensure the efficient use of public resources.
The body also promotes collaboration with international financial institutions and development partners in building resilient financial management systems.