President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, minister of Environment, Amina J. Mohammed, and banker and chairman of UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu, are among the Nigerians who dominated the list of 100 most influential personalities in Africa in 2015.
The list of 100 most influential African is published yearly by The New African, a London – based pan – African magazine with an acclaimed readership of 2.6 million people in about 100 countries.
Other Nigerians featured on the list this year are Akinwumi Adesina, former Agriculture minister and now President of the African Development Bank, AfDB, Arumah Oteh, Vice President and Treasurer at the World Bank as well as Chuka Umunna, Nigerian – born UK Labour MP.
Buhari and Jonathan made the list for the role they played in the peaceful transfer of power from a ruling party to the opposition after the last general election.
Omar Ben Yedder, group publisher of the African Magazine said that the list celebrates men, women and organisations “that have shaped our beloved continent, the trail blazers, influencers, rising stars who are redefining Africa’s future in the various spheres in which they operate.”
The list recognises work of awardees in eight fields, including politics, public office, arts and culture, business, civil society, technology, media and sports.
Of the 100 personalities from 30 countries, 20 of them are Nigerians while 16 are South Africans. Kenyans, Ugandans and Cameroonians also featured prominently on the list with between six and eight entries each.
Also, of the 100 named achievers, 65 are men while 32 are women, with the other three being groups or organisations.
Significantly, one of the named influences are South African students for the role they played in the #FeesMustFall protests