Oluwashola Fausath Bello, Deputy Manager at Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who was recently awarded the prestigious Tax Manager of the Year Award by the Institute of Debt Recovery Practitioners of Nigeria (IDRPN), in recognition of her outstanding leadership and transformative impact on Nigeria’s tax system, has weighed in on boosting Africa’s economic transformation.

Ms. Bello is one of the most influential figures within the FIRS today, and her achievements have been described as “exceptional” by Dr Akintunde Opeodu, the IDRPN Registrar, who lauded Ms. Bello for setting new benchmarks in tax management.

Beyond her accolades in Nigeria, Bello’s insights are now drawing international attention.

In a recent joint virtual interview with the business manager, Dr Iyadunni Olaleye in Ghana, Bello addressed pressing economic challenges facing African nations, including high public debt, low revenue mobilisation, and inefficiencies in state-owned enterprises.

She emphasised Ghana’s untapped tax potential, citing that out of over 14 million eligible taxpayers, only six million file annual returns, and this is not good for a developing nation.

“Establishing a strong domestic revenue base is vital,” she noted, advocating for increased digitalisation, improved infrastructure, and policies that attract investment.

Ms. Bello’s vision aligns with Ghana’s broader economic goals: reducing dependency on foreign aid and building a resilient, self-sustaining economy.

Her experience and leadership offer valuable lessons and potential collaborations that could support Ghana in strengthening its revenue systems and boosting long-term growth.