Alhaji Shawall Barau Jibrin, president of Barau Football Club and described as the youngest club head in the Nigeria Premier Football League, was named the winner of the CEOs Network Africa Awards 2025 in the Sports and Wellness category in December. The honour was widely interpreted as confirmation of a young football administrator whose work has been reshaping club football development in Northern Nigeria and beyond.
Award recognition in 2025
Shawall’s win came as he finished ahead of a group of high-profile nominees, including sports journalist Odey Cornelius Godspower, The DEW Centre founder Omon Anenih, fitness creator Balogun Bukola, health and fitness coach Candy Olatunji, and fitness expert Shredder Gang. The selection highlighted Shawall’s expanding role in sports management, youth pathways, and community-driven empowerment.
Barau FC’s rise through the divisions
In the months that followed, the award momentum has been backed by Barau FC’s on-field progress. Under Shawall’s direction, the club has completed a standout journey through Nigerian football, climbing from the lower leagues to secure a place in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
During their opening top-flight campaign, the Kano-based side exceeded expectations by finishing eighth in the league table. That achievement helped frame Barau FC as one of the most compelling narratives of the 2025/26 season.
The team’s progress was not limited to the league, with further landmarks that underlined their growing profile at both state and national level:
- Barau FC won the Kano FA Cup.
- The club also produced a memorable run to the quarter-finals of the President Federation Cup.
- Those successes reinforced the club’s upward trajectory and strengthened the identity of the “Maliya Boys” across competitions.
Leadership, structure and wider community impact
Shawall’s influence has extended beyond results, with Barau FC placing emphasis on professionalising its internal operations. A key sign of that shift was the appointment of former Super Eagles defender Dominic Iorfa as General Manager.
Outside football, Shawall Barau Jibrin—who holds the traditional title of Talban Kabo—has also built a reputation for work focused on peacebuilding, youth involvement, and broader community development. In November 2024, he received the International Peace Medal Award from the International Organisation of UN Volunteers, an honour that recognised him as a Global Peace Diplomat.
The recognition placed his growing influence beyond sport into sharper focus, reflecting his continued commitment to efforts aimed at strengthening social unity and supporting human development. Alongside those honours, he has maintained an active social-impact agenda, including initiatives that back education and deliver relief materials to vulnerable households across Northern Nigeria.
Support behind the success
While stakeholders point to Shawall’s leadership as a major driver, they also stress that Barau FC’s rapid growth has been supported by the vision and guidance of the club’s Grand Patron, the Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator Barau I. Jibrin, PhD, CFR.
Senator Barau’s backing—widely linked to youth empowerment and sports development—has been described as the bedrock of the club’s achievements. His belief in sports as a tool for social change is credited with opening opportunities for young talents and helping position Barau FC as a standard-bearer for football institutions in Nigeria.
With Barau FC continuing to push forward both on and off the pitch, Shawall’s CEOs Network Africa Award is presented as more than a personal milestone. It is being viewed as recognition of a shared direction that has turned a football club into a symbol of excellence, opportunity, and community development.
