ACFCS Member Spotlight: For Olagoke Sayeed Salawu, success in fighting financial crime rooted in cross-disciplinary mindset, continuous learning, creativity – and courage

For Olagoke Sayeed Salawu, looking back at his more than decade-long career in fighting financial crime and conquering compliance, there is one piece of advice that has always stuck with him – even becoming a guiding ethos in his learning journey: “Don’t just do your job, study it.”

Whether as a risk and compliance systems manager at digital banking platform Rova, or a money laundering reporting officer (MLRO) at African payments infrastructure company, Kora, Olagoke has made it his mission to learn more than just anti-money laundering (AML) rules and responsibilities – but see across the interlinked spectrum of illicit finance, technology and risk management.

At every position he has achieved, he has embodied a cross-disciplinary, cross-functional and cross-communicative mindset, creating, reviewing and refining countercrime programs across the institution, including corruption, cybersecurity, cyber-enabled fraud and sanctions compliance.

Olagoke also preaches the importance of ethics – that small decisions without anyone watching can translate into making courageous decisions when the pressure is on.

He is cognizant that compliance officers have historically faced incredible pressure to not get in the way of profits or have clashed with business lines to let in customers that represent more risk than they are worth.

From seeing the big picture to drilling down on the details: tackling, taming technology

As Olagoke rose to larger institutions and positions with more responsibility, he pivoted from linking together compliance departments to drilling down into the most complex areas of fincrime compliance.

These included sharpening data collection and risk-ranking at the outset of a relationship, tuning transaction systems and improving the depth and quality of reports of suspicious activity to regulators and law enforcement – one of the most important, yet oft-criticized, areas of the multi-pronged AML program. 

That dedication has helped him achieve his current position as head of the Financial Crimes Compliance function at Sterling Bank, overseeing AML/CFT/CPF, ABC, sanctions, correspondent relationships, Business/Product Compliance and Partnership Compliance.

He is also the current President of the ACFCS West Africa Chapter, where he leads strategic compliance efforts across money laundering, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, and digital risk domains.

My work bridges traditional banking with the evolving fintech landscape, ensuring regulatory integrity while enabling innovation,” he said, describing his aspirations to be a “purpose-driven compliance leader committed to building resilient financial ecosystems across Africa” as well as mentoring the “next generation” of fincrime fighters.

To that end, he is a frequent speaker at ACFCS events, runs a YouTube series on Nigeria’s cryptocurrency landscape titled “The Truth in the Middle”, maintains a weekly newsletter focused on Ethics/Compliance and has published a range of thought pieces on financial crime, including “Why Every Business Needs a Strong AML Program” and the interplay of rising fraud schemes laundering funds through digital payment platforms, just to name a few.

The anathema of effectiveness: just ‘doing what you’re told’ can hamstring input, innovation

Olagoke also challenges the status quo and isn’t afraid to speak up if those below or above him are not putting forth maximum effort, focus and fervor to uncover and attack the highest fincrime risks and institutional vulnerabilities. 

In fact, he said the worst advice he ever received was anathema to his personal and professional philosophy of constant growth: “Just do what you’re told.”

“That mindset discourages innovation and critical thinking, both of which are essential in compliance,” Olagoke said.

In his website, Olagoke calls being a compliance professional “More Than a Profession: A Way of Life,” going beyond improvements at just his institution to “help institutions build resilient compliance systems.”

Beyond his professional life, he is a “cultural custodian—deeply rooted in Yoruba values and a proud fitness advocate.”

Olagoke routinely collaborates with WeightGainAndRecovery, a wellness brand focused on body transformation, where he offers “tailored fitness consultations and motivational support. This platform brings my full self to you: the strategist, the teacher, and the motivator.”

The evolution of AML: from physical to digital, intrepid investigator to intelligent interceptor

Motivation, adaptation and concentration are vital to countering the world of threat actors – a widening miscreant miasma from organized criminal groups to scurrilous scammers, recently empowered with more approachable generative artificial intelligence.

In short: the bad guys are always looking for the path of least resistance at the regional and institutional levels, whether they are corruptible bank staffers, weak regulators or ineffective investigators.

This has required fincrime compliance officers to respond in lock step – boosting knowledge, skills and collaboration, across the public and private-sector spaces.

“The field has evolved from checkbox compliance to risk-based, intelligence-driven and technology powered programs,” Olagoke said. “The biggest challenges today include regulatory arbitrage, a growing skill deficit in the 2nd line, and the tension between speed and control in digital banking.”

“Additionally, the focus on easy hiring by just assuming that Compliance officers with more years are better than those with technical abilities/expertise remains a pressing concern,” he said,

He added that, more broadly, the industry has shifted from a focus on technical compliance, laws on the books, to effectiveness – better reports to go after bigger criminal networks.

So that begs the question: what qualities make the compliance officer of today able to fight the threats of tomorrow?      

“Analytical rigor, intellectual curiosity, ethical courage, emotional intelligence, and a bias for action,” Olagoke said. “You must also communicate effectively across business and technical lines and remain calm in the face of uncertainty or internal/external pressure.”

Olagoke was kind enough to share some of his insight, experience and knowledge in our latest ACFCS Member Spotlight:

Who inspires you? 

I often draw inspiration from within. Reflecting on my journey, the challenges I’ve overcome, the values I uphold, and the goals I strive toward help keep me grounded and motivated.

That said, I also learn a great deal from peers and leaders who demonstrate courage, excellence, and ethical leadership.

What is one thing – either industry-related or not – that you learned in the past month?             

As part of my Executive MBA coursework, I’ve been applying data analytics concepts such as correlation, regression, and forecasting to real-world Anti-Financial Crime scenarios.

One area of focus has been enhancing the effectiveness of risk and compliance systems by integrating transaction monitoring, fraud detection, sanctions screening, KYC/CDD, and customer risk assessment into a unified system.

This approach strengthens our understanding of the customer and enables progressive identity profiling across the customer lifecycle.

I’ve gained deeper insight into how statistical modeling can identify hidden patterns, improve alert prioritization, support resources and support more data-driven financial crime prevention strategies.

It’s been a rewarding experience connecting academic theory with practical anti-financial crime use cases.

What is something about you that not many people know?

Not many people know that I’ve been working out consistently since 2015, it’s my discipline ritual. Fitness fuels my mental clarity and resilience.

What do you do in your current role?       

I lead the Financial Crimes Compliance function at Sterling Bank, covering AML/CFT/CPF, ABC, sanctions, correspondent banking, product/business compliance, and partnership oversight.

I also serve on the Change Management Advisory Committee and chair the Compliance Sub-Committee of the Product Approval Committee.

My role includes driving regulatory posture realignment through thematic reviews, product advisory, and shaping enterprise-wide responses to emerging risks and digital asset regulations.

I oversee GRC for our Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform and lead efforts to proactively address emerging risks, including the convergence of cryptocurrencies and traditional banking.

My long-term goal is to become an Executive driving data-driven compliance/risk management, advancing a culture of ethics, and mentoring the next generation of risk professionals.

What is the best advice you have ever received?           

The best advice I’ve received: “Don’t just do your job, study it.”

This mindset led me to develop cross-functional capabilities earlier on in my career, which allowed me to grow very quickly.

The worst advice: “Just do what you’re told.”

That mindset discourages innovation and critical thinking, both of which are essential in compliance.

How are you involved with ACFCS?         

I am an Active CFCS Member, I have the C2S Specialization, and I am CFCS Certified. I am also head of the ACFCS West Africa Chapter.

What would you say are the most important attributes for someone in your role to be able to succeed?   

Analytical rigor, intellectual curiosity, ethical courage, emotional intelligence, and a bias for action. You must also communicate effectively across business and technical lines and remain calm in the face of uncertainty or internal/external pressure.

How has (compliance, investigations, etc.) changed and evolved during your career?           

The field has evolved from checkbox compliance to risk-based, intelligence-driven programs.

The biggest challenges today include regulatory arbitrage and the tension between speed and control in digital banking.

Additionally, the focus on easy hiring by just assuming that Compliance officers with more years are better than those with technical abilities/expertise remains a pressing concern.

What motivated you to become a financial crime professional?             

My motivation stemmed from a deep-seated belief in fairness and justice, as well as a fascination with how financial systems can be weaponized or protected.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how dynamic and collaborative the field is. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the tangible impact of our interventions.

How did you get your first job in the field and what advice would you give other job seekers to help land their first position?       

My first role was a General Compliance role at Access Bank, where I developed a keen eye for control failures and red flags.

That foundation led me into Financial Crimes, where I specialized early in financial crime risk management and control design.

For job seekers, I’d say: build credibility, get certified, learn continuously, and consistently show initiative. To level up, develop a strategic mindset: go beyond compliance to contribute to business value, influence policy, and lead transformation initiatives

Why did you join ACFCS and/or become CFCS-certified?

I joined ACFCS and pursued the CFCS certification to consolidate my multidisciplinary knowledge across ML/TF/PF, fraud, corruption, cybercrime, bribery/corruption, ethics and sanctions.

ACFCS uniquely promotes a holistic understanding of financial crime risk, which aligns with my commitment to proactive, intelligence-led compliance.

The CFCS credential not only validated my expertise but also connected me to a global community (Nigeria Chapter, which has now grown to become the West African Chapter) of like-minded professionals dedicated to integrity and innovation in financial crime prevention.