Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Buhari, Jonathan, Elumelu, Adesina, Oteh and others make 100 Most Influential Africans list

Most Influential Africans
President Mohammadu Buhari, Nigeria's former president Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman, Board of Directors, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu , and 97 others have been named among the “100 most influential Africans of 2015.”

The list published by pan African magazine, “New African” presented Africa’s definitive power list and profiled the continent’s top game changers in eight different fields: politics (22); public office (4); arts and culture (21); business (21); civil society (11); technology(9); media (7); and sports (5).

Both Buhari and Jonathan made the list for the significant role they played in Nigeria’s 2015 elections which saw the first successful transfer of power from a ruling government to an opposition party in Nigeria. Jonathan’s humility in defeat and Buhari’s magnanimity in victory ensured that Nigeria avoided a post-election crisis.

Other Nigerians recognised included: the UN Special Advisor on Post Development Planning, Amina Mohammed, AfDB’s new President Akinwumi Adesina, and Nigerian Diasporan, UK MP and Labour Party leadership hopeful, Chuka Umunna as well as Arumah Oteh, who is World Bank Vice President and Treasurer.

Amina Mohammed is Nigeria’s current Minister of Environment. Before her appointment, she was Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning at the United Nations where she contributed to the shaping of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across three years of complex negotiations and the most inclusive consultation process in the history of the United Nations, her vision and voice helping to bring people together, enlist new partners to the cause and reach global consensus on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Adesina is Nigeria’s former Minister of Agricultural where he led a drive to curb corruption of the fertilizer distribution scheme and significant improvement in agricultural production that led to a sharp drop in food imports.

Umunna was recognised for the significant positive recognition he has brought Nigerians in the UK while Oteh was recognised for her elevation to one of the most significant positions at the World Bank.

Group Publisher, of the New African, Omar Ben Yedder, in a report on Tuesday, said the list of “100 Most Influential Africans” celebrates the “men, women and organisations that have shaped our beloved continent, the trail blazers, influencers and the rising stars who are redefining Africa’s future in the various spheres in which they operate.”

Explaining the selection of Elumelu as one of the most influential Africans, he said “In this increasingly global and interconnected world, we need champions; those game changers who are making a difference, changing perceptions and shaping our definition of what is possible. This is why it is our honour to recognise you as one “New African’s 100 most influential Africans 2015. We are so proud of everything you have accomplished.”

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