Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was among the Nigerians who dominated the list of 100 most influential Africans of 2015. Former President Goodluck Jonathan also made it to the list. The two presidents were put in the list for the contributions they made in the Nigeria’s 2015 elections leading to a successful peaceful transfer of power from a ruling party to an opposition party.
AFDB president Akinmwumi Adesina, Tony Elumelu, chairman,United Bank for Africa , Nigerian Diasporan and UK member of Parliament Chuka Umunna, World Bank vice president and treasurer Arumah Oteh and Nigeria’s Minister of Environment Amina J. Mohammed are among those named in the list published by New African Magazine based in London with over 2.6 million readers from across 100 countries of the world.
The list gives Africa’s definitive powerful individuals and profiles top game changers in the continent’s politics (22), public office (4), Arts and Culture (21), Business (21), Civil Society (11), Technology (9), media (7) and sports (5).
30 countries were represented in the list, Nigerians and South Africans took a huge share with 20 Nigerians and 16 South Africans. Kenya followed with eight and Uganda came close with 6 alongside Cameroonians also being six. 65 of the individuals listed were men, 32 women and three being groups of people.
Those who represented South Africa included the black leader of South Africa’s ‘white’ opposition party”, the Democratic Alliance’s youthful Mmusi Maimane, UN Women’s Phumzike Mlambo-Ngcuka and Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini – Zuma, the current Chairperson of the African Union Commission. South Africa’s students were recognised for their role in South Africa’s #FeesMustFall and #Rhodesmustfall campaigns this year.
Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is recognised together with her fellow heads of States, Alpha Conde of Guinea and Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone for beating the odds to win the war against Ebola in 2015.
African financial giant and Credit Suisse boss, Tidjane Thiam from Côte d’Ivoire, makes this year’s Most Influential list for Business and Economy,where he is joined by new World Bank VP and Treasurer, Arunma Oteh, Kenyan ‘DJ’ businessman Chris Kirubi and the entrepreneur and innovator behind Tesla cars, Elon Musk, among others.
Among other people named include innovators such as Cameroon’s Tonje Bakang, philanthropists and musician Senegal’s Akon, athletes such as Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana, actors including Zimbabwe’s Danai Gurira and Kenya’s Lupita Nyong’o, writers like Zambia’s Namwali Serpell, cultural and media personalities Trevor Noah and Linda Ikeji, along with the activists, artists, models, musicians that have made the headline and shaped opinions during the year.
