The Managing Director of Blueprint Newspapers Limited, Salisu Umar, has said the decision to honour the leadership of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) at the 2025 Blueprint Public Lecture, Impact Series and Awards was informed by their exceptional contributions to national development.

Umar said the awardees distinguished themselves through reforms, innovation, institutional transformation and commitment to public service, earning recognition in their respective fields.

According to him, the annual Blueprint lecture and awards is designed to celebrate public officials, institutions and private sector leaders whose performance has made a measurable difference in governance, economic growth and service delivery.

He explained that the selection process involved extensive assessments by the newspaper’s editorial board, independent consultations and a review of the achievements of nominees over the past year.

On the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, Umar said he emerged as the recipient of the Fiscal Governance Reformer of the Year Award in recognition of his efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal management architecture.

He noted that under Shehu’s leadership, the Commission has intensified reforms aimed at enhancing revenue mobilisation, improving transparency in revenue allocation and promoting greater accountability in the management of public resources.

“Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu has demonstrated visionary leadership in advancing fiscal governance. His commitment to strengthening institutional processes and ensuring prudent management of national revenue has positioned the commission as an important driver of economic stability and sustainable development,” he said.

Speaking on the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, the publisher said she was selected for the Responsive Humanitarian Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership in disaster management and humanitarian response.

He said that under her stewardship, NEMA has enhanced emergency preparedness, improved coordination with stakeholders and responded promptly to disasters affecting communities across the country.

“Mrs Zubaida Umar has consistently demonstrated compassion, professionalism and efficiency in providing relief to disaster victims and strengthening Nigeria’s emergency management system. Her leadership has brought renewed confidence to humanitarian interventions nationwide,” he said.

On the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, Umar said the commission had recorded remarkable progress in regulatory reforms and digital service delivery.

He explained that Magaji was honoured with the Corporate Governance and Regulatory Reforms Awardfor implementing initiatives that have improved the ease of doing business, strengthened corporate regulation and enhanced transparency in company registration and compliance.

According to him, the reforms introduced by the CAC have significantly reduced processing timelines, expanded digital access to services and reinforced investor confidence in Nigeria’s corporate regulatory environment.

He said the recognition of the three chief executives indicates Blueprint Newspaper’s commitment to acknowledging excellence in public administration and encouraging leaders who are making tangible contributions to national progress.

He said the achievements of the award recipients demonstrate that purposeful leadership, institutional reforms and dedication to service remain critical to Nigeria’s development aspirations.

He congratulated the awardees and expressed confidence that the recognition would inspire them to sustain the reforms and initiatives that have earned them national acclaim.

The Blueprint Newspaper’s Public Lecture, Impact Series and Awards have become one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for recognising excellence in governance, public service and corporate leadership, honouring individuals and institutions whose work continues to shape national development and improve the lives of citizens.

About the awardees

Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu is the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and a distinguished public administrator with over four decades of experience in education, public administration, international development and fiscal governance. Since assuming office in 2022, he has championed fiscal transparency, equitable revenue allocation, institutional reforms and improved revenue generation across all tiers of government.

A graduate of Kaduna Polytechnic and Colorado State University–Pueblo, he also holds a Master’s degree and PhD in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Igbinedion University. His career has spanned teaching, corporate leadership in the United States, and public service, including serving as Secretary of RMAFC before he was appointed Chairman.

He is appointed to participate in international policy engagements organised by institutions such as the United Nations, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institution. He is also the author of publications on security, elections and humanitarian issues. His leadership continues to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal architecture through accountability, transparency and sustainable management of public resources.

Mrs Zubaida Abubakar Umar

Mrs Zubaida Abubakar Umar is the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), where she leads Nigeria’s disaster preparedness, emergency response and humanitarian coordination efforts. A seasoned public administrator and financial management expert, she has over two decades of experience in public finance, debt management, housing finance and institutional reform.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Master’s degree in International Trade from Robert Gordon University, Scotland. She has also completed executive programmes at the Wharton School and holds ACCA certifications in Public Financial Management and Sustainability in Finance.

Before joining NEMA, she served as Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and previously worked at the Debt Management Office. Under her leadership, NEMA has strengthened disaster response, enhanced stakeholder collaboration and improved institutional capacity, earning recognition for responsive and effective humanitarian leadership.

Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN)

Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, is the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Appointed in October 2023, he is the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria to lead the Commission and has driven major digital and regulatory reforms to improve Nigeria’s business environment.

A law graduate of Ahmadu Bello University with postgraduate degrees in Law and Business Administration, Magaji rose through the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice before attaining the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2021. He later established a successful legal practice before returning to public service.

At CAC, he has introduced AI-powered business registration, expanded digital services, strengthened regulatory compliance and promoted the formalisation of millions of informal businesses. His reforms have enhanced transparency, improved ease of doing business and earned the Commission national recognition for innovation and service delivery.