By Salisu Ibrahim

When an international honour projects a nation’s policy direction, it becomes more than recognition. It becomes evidence.
At a time when global scrutiny of Nigeria’s economy is intense, the African Business Leadership Award’s (ABLA’s) decision signals that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms in revenue mobilisation, transparency, and sub-national empowerment are being noticed — and benchmarked on global stage.

It tells investors, development partners, and 54 African countries that Nigeria is changing how it manages public money.

Most often, an award to a public figure is personal.

It comes and goes. And the Plaques gather dust.
But Dr. Shehu’s honour is bigger than one man. It is about institutional reform as state policy. It is about the quiet, difficult work of aligning the revenue formula with current realities, strengthening local government autonomy, and forcing accountability in the oil and non-oil sectors — all central pillars of the Renewed Hope economic plan. It signals growing international validation of Nigeria’s fiscal reforms under President Tinubu.
That is the significance of the African Business Leadership Award, ABLA, conferred on Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, in London this July.

The 2026 Fiscal Governance and Revenue Accountability Award does not just celebrate one public servant. It validates the fiscal direction of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The recognition is not just about Dr. Shehu as public servant. It is about the reforms he embodies: the difficult work of rebuilding institutions, restoring trust, and making government serve the people, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

At a time when Nigeria often makes global headlines for the wrong reasons, Dr. Shehu’s award shifts the narrative. It now says: Look at the policy shifts, the anti-corruption drives, and the effort to make bureaucracy serve business and citizens, not the other way around.

For Nigeria, this is not a moment for celebration alone. It is also a moment for interrogation.
When the world is spotlighting the country’s reforms through Dr. Shehu, then three questions must be asked: Are these reforms real and sustainable? Are they being felt on the streets — in Kano, Port Harcourt, and Maiduguri? Can they be institutionalized beyond one administration?
For once, the spotlight is not only on the nation’s problems. It is also on the solutions.
Through the power of ABLA that exports a Nigerian story to 54 African countries and beyond and turns RMAFC’s work into a continental case study, the fiscal reform by the present administration is gaining international recognition.

Historically, ABLA honours public sector leaders with proven stewardship and measurable impact. In July, at the 16th ABLA in London hosted by African Leadership Magazine, Dr. Shehu received the 2026 Fiscal Governance and Revenue Accountability Award alongside an Honorary Doctorate. It projects the reform measures of Dr. Shehu’s vision in line with the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

ABLA’s selection committee had specifically cited Dr. Shehu’s vision in addressing long-standing friction in Nigeria’s revenue-sharing formula, as one of the reasons for his selection. This has clearly demonstrate how Africa and the global community are watching, and taking notes of happenings in Nigeria.

Under Dr. Shehu, RMAFC is witnessing three measures that are moving the commission beyond revenue distribution towards driving a structural reforms. Thes three priorities stand out:
Modernized Revenue Allocation Framework; Strengthening Local Government Autonomy as well as Verification and Non-Oil Diversification.

Already, RMAFC is advocating for constitutional amendments to enforce timelines for new revenue formulas, grounded in current socio-economic data, following the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment. The commission is also working with ALGON to amend Section 162(6) of the Constitution to ensure direct disbursement to local councils.

It is also deploying expanded powers to audit oil and gas firms for unremitted revenues, and building state capacity to grow revenue from agriculture, solid minerals, and tourism.

In accepting the award, Dr. Shehu choose to dedicate it to RMAFC staff, stating: “This honour is not for me alone. It’s for all of us. I believe it will further inspire deeper reforms and strengthen public trust in our fiscal system.”
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has equally endorsed the award, describing the recognition as a major win for Nigerian public sector governance.

By prioritizing evidence-based revenue distribution, sub-national empowerment, and fiscal accountability, RMAFC’s trajectory has reduced political friction in the country and translate transparency into tangible outcomes with better infrastructure, functional healthcare, and improved schools.
It also explain how Dr. Shehu’s ABLA award is an invitation to Nigeria: to own its reform story, and to prove that the global spotlight is well deserved.

Ibrahim writes from Kano, could be reached on: faccageltd10@gmail.com

Former Nigerian international squash player, Longdi Dasbak, on Monday has called for increased efforts to encourage girls to take up squash, saying female participation in the sport remains very low.

Dasbak made the call on Monday during the second edition of the Squash Premier League at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, in Abuja.

The week-long tournament, themed “Breeding the Next Generation of Champions,” began on Monday and will end on Aug.

8.

Dasbak described the league as a positive initiative that would significantly contribute to grassroots development and the growth of squash in Nigeria.

“I would say this is a very good development, especially for grassroots squash, because that is where every successful sport begins.

“We want to develop young players who will take the game to the next level while making squash more popular across the country. This league is another important way of promoting the sport,” she said.

She said that participation had increased considerably since the league was introduced in 2025, adding that the growing number of children taking part showed that awareness of the sport was improving.

“The first edition did not attract this number of participants, but now you can see many more children taking part. That shows awareness is increasing, and I believe it is a very positive development,” she said.

Dasbak, who participated as one of the instructors at the coaching and officiating clinic organised by the tournament, said it was her first time that she will be speaking at the event.

She said she established the Dasby’s Sports Development Association in Plateau to create opportunities for girls, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, to participate in sports.

According to her, the association also runs Dasby’s Squash Academy, where boys and girls aged six years and above receive training, with special emphasis on encouraging female participation.

“Female participation in squash is still very low, and we have very few women actively playing the sport. That inspired me to establish the foundation in Plateau State,” she said.

Dasbak said the academy currently has more than 35 young players and expressed optimism that it would continue to expand.

She added that although some parents were initially reluctant to allow their daughters to participate in sports, sustained advocacy had helped to change their mindset.

“Even girls from families that can afford sports programmes are welcome. We bring everyone together because every girl deserves an opportunity,” she said.

On government support for squash, Dasbak said the sport had yet to receive the desired level of attention compared to more popular sports.

“I wouldn’t say squash is receiving the desired attention from the government. Football naturally gets more attention, but squash also deserves greater support,” she said.

She stressed that creating greater public awareness remained essential to attracting more participants to the sport.

Dasbak identified inadequate funding, the high cost of equipment and transportation as major challenges confronting grassroots squash development.

“There are many challenges. Government cannot do everything alone, so individuals and corporate organisations have important roles to play in supporting initiatives like this,” she said.

She said that her foundation was not only focused on sports development but also on empowering girls through life skills that would enable them to become self-reliant.

According to her, she travelled to Abuja with 10 players for the competition and appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropists and other well-meaning Nigerians to support grassroots sports development.

“Our most urgent need right now is sponsorship. With adequate support, we will be able to reach more children and provide greater opportunities for them through sports,” she said.

Dasbak is the founder of Dasby’s Squash Academy for boys and girls aged six years and above, as well as the Dasby’s Sports Development Association, a Plateau-based initiative dedicated to empowering girls through sports.

Manchester United have made striker Chido Obi-Martin available for a loan move this summer following a mixed pre-season assessment, with the club preferring a continental European destination over a physical domestic EFL loan.

Red Devils manager Michael Carrick and the coaching staff feel the young Dane is not quite ready for regular senior minutes in the Premier League.

According to a report from Tipsbladet, Manchester United favour sending him to a continental European club rather than a Championship side to ensure a proper developmental style and high playing time without excessive physical risks.

Recall that forwards like Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo sit ahead of him in the current senior pecking order.

Obi featured in pre-season for Man Utd during their 5-0 win over Rosenborg for 30 minutes as a substitute, although he didn’t travel with the squad for their recent win over Atletico Madrid.

Chido Obi-Martin joined Manchester United towards the end of 2024 after leaving Arsenal’s youth academy and has quickly established himself as one of the club’s brightest attacking prospects.