23/01/2026
Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Sani Bello Sarkin Shanu Bags Nelson Mandela Excellence Award in Public Service
Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Sani Bello (MNATE), a respected traditional leader and renowned community development advocate in Gombe State, has been selected to receive the prestigious Nelson Mandela Excellence Award in Public Service at the 7th Our Nigeria News Awards.
The award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, and is expected to draw an array of top government officials, diplomats, policymakers and influential personalities from across Africa and beyond. The annual event, organized by Our Nigeria News Magazine, celebrates excellence, leadership and outstanding contributions to journalism, governance and national development. Popularly known by his traditional title “Sarkin Shanun”, Dr. Sani is a prominent figure in grassroots development and humanitarian service in Gombe State and the wider Northeast region. He also holds several other traditional titles, including Sarkin Dajin Akko and Funakaye, Dan Moyin Pindiga, and Dan Iyan Gona Ardon Yariman Gombe, reflecting his deep-rooted influence and recognition across communities.
Dr. Sani currently serves as the Executive Director of the Sarkin Shanu Foundation for Youth and Community Development, a non-governmental organisation committed to social development, youth empowerment and community upliftment. Through the foundation, he has championed various initiatives aimed at equipping young people with practical skills, including ICT training and vocational capacity-building programmed. In the agricultural sector, he has played a strategic role as a Coordinator of development initiatives, notably the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Special Project in Gombe State, where he has supported rice farmers, promoted productivity and strengthened food security efforts in the state.
