African Leadership Magazine (ALM) proudly unveils the nominees for the highly anticipated African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year (POTY) 2025, following a resounding response to the open call for nominations across the continent and its diaspora. After a rigorous evaluation by the ALM Editorial Board, the final list of nominees has been confirmed — and public voting is now officially open on the ALM website, running until midnight (GMT+1) on 30 November 2025.
The ALM POTY Awards remain Africa’s foremost public-choice honour, spotlighting leaders whose courage, innovation, and decisive actions in 2025 are shifting the continent’s development trajectory. The awards follow a rigorous three-stage process that combines credibility with wide public participation: an open call for nominations from across Africa and the Diaspora; a meticulous shortlist by the ALM Editorial Board assessing measurable impact and continental relevance; and a continent-wide online vote that empowers Africans everywhere to choose the personalities driving Africa’s progress and reshaping its global narrative.
The 2025 nominees of the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year showcase extraordinary leadership across governance, business, education, peace and security, philanthropy, youth, and public service. Their work and impact in 2025 and beyond is driving real, measurable change — from economic transformation and stronger institutions to social progress and inclusive, sustainable growth. These leaders are shaping policies, inspiring communities, championing innovation, and redefining Africa’s narrative on the global stage. Each nominee embodies bold action, vision, and impact, turning challenges into opportunities and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
The winners, determined by public vote, will be recognised and honoured at the 15th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards Ceremony, scheduled for 27–28 February 2026 in Accra, Ghana, under the theme: “Leadership for a New Africa: Forging Our Peace, Owning Our Narrative.”
The African Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards is the continent’s most prestigious leadership recognition event — often described as the African Oscars of Leadership and Achievement. Organised by African Leadership Magazine (ALM), Africa’s leading voice on leadership and impact, the event celebrates trailblazers whose vision, innovation, and integrity continue to shape Africa’s progress in governance, business, and society. Now in its 15th edition, the POTY has become a magnet for Presidents, Ministers, CEOs, Diplomats, and Innovators — uniting Africa’s foremost changemakers under one roof.
The 2025 Persons of the Year nominees are as follows:
African Political Leader of the Year
- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah — President of Namibia
- Patrice Talon — President of Benin
- Duma Gideon Boko — President of Botswana
- José Maria Neves — President of Cape Verde
African Female Leader of the Year
- Esperança da Costa — Vice President of Angola
- Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (Ghana)— Secretary-General, Commonwealth of Nations
- Mandisa Maya — Chief Justice, South Africa
- Hend El Sherbini — CEO, Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH), Egypt
African Educationist of the Year
- Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir — Minister for Education, Culture & Higher Education, Somalia
- Tetteh Nettey — Founder & President, Marshalls University College, Ghana
- Barnabas Nawangwe — Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Uganda
- Owunari Georgewill — Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Africa Peace & Security Leader of the Year
- Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun — Inspector General of Police, Nigeria
- Mbaye Cissé — Chief of the General Staff, Senegalese Armed Forces
- Mahmoud Ali Youssouf — Chairperson, AU Commission, Djibouti
- Mohammed Berrid — Inspector General, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces & Southern Zone Commander
African Industrialist of the Year
- Samuel Dossou Aworet — Founder & Chairman, Petrolin Group (Benin) & Chair, African Business Roundtable
- Yacoub Sidya — Founder & CEO, MSS Security, Mauritania
- Edson R. dos Santos — Chairman & CEO, Etu Energias, Angola
- Phuthuma Nhleko — Chairman/Co-Founder, Phembani Group, South Africa
- Nassef Sawiris — Executive Chairman, Orascom Investment Holding, Egypt
African Philanthropist of the Year
- Jim Ovia — Founder & Chairman, Jim Ovia Foundation
- Dr. Mensa Otabil — Founder, International Central Gospel Church (ICGC)
- Rali Mampeule — Founder, South African Housing & Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF)
- Samuel Tafesse — Founder, Sunshine Investment Group, Ethiopia
Young African Leader of the Year
- Khalil Suleiman Halilu — Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NASENI, Nigeria
- Darshan Chandaria — Group CEO, Chandaria Group, Kenya
- Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit — Senior Presidential Envoy (Special Programmes), South Sudan
- Azarel Ernesta — Speaker, National Assembly, Seychelles
- Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo — Founder & CEO, Intratrek Zimbabwe
African Public Sector Leader of the Year
- Charles Anosike — Director General/CEO, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)
- Monique Gieskes — Director General/CEO, Plantations & Oil Mills of the Congo (PHC), DR Congo
- Ireneu Camacho — Chairman/CEO, ENAPOR, Cape Verde
- Avomo Assoumou Paule Koki — Director General, Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority
- Debele Kabeta — Commissioner, Ethiopian Customs Commission
African Public Health Champion of the Year
- Esperance Luvindao — Minister of Health & Social Services, Namibia
- Mekdes Daba Feyssa — Minister of Health, Ethiopia
- Jean Kaseya — Director General, Africa CDC (DR Congo)
- Aaron Motsoaledi — Minister of Health, South Africa
- Paulin Basinga — Director of Health (Africa), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Rwanda)
African Agricultural Development Leader of the Year
- Tinotenda Mhiko — CEO, Zimbabwe Agricultural & Rural Development Authority
- Queta Baldé — Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Guinea-Bissau
- Bruno Linyiru — Director General, Agriculture & Food Authority (AFA), Kenya
- Girma Amente — Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia
- Alaa Farouk — Minister of Agriculture & Land Reclamation, Egypt
- Arvin Boolell — Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy & Fisheries, Mauritius
African Government Minister of the Year
- Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui — Cabinet Secretary, Investments, Trade & Industry, Kenya
- Estevão Pale — Minister of Mineral Resources & Energy, Mozambique
- Seedy K.M. Keita — Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs, Gambia
- Nyesom Wike — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
- Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura — Minister of Finance, Sierra Leone
African Lawmaker of the Year
- Celmira Sacramento — Speaker, National Assembly, São Tomé & Príncipe
- Shirin Aumeeruddy Cziffra — Speaker, National Assembly, Mauritius
- Austelino Tavares Correia — President, National Assembly, Cape Verde
- Tlohang Sekhamane — Speaker, National Assembly, Lesotho
- Benjamin Okezie Kalu — Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Nigeria
Voting is now open at www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.Co.UK — have your say and champion Africa’s finest leaders today!
Africa Fact: western Africa, region of the western African continent comprising the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cabo
Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Western Africa is a term used in the Encyclopædia Britannica to designate a geographic region within the continent of Africa. The term West Africa is also often used to refer to this part of the continent. As conventionally understood, however, West Africa is primarily a political and economic designation and comprises all the areas considered here except Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and the Saharan parts of Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.
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Sarmie – sandwich [saam-ie] A slang word for sandwich.
Snout Pixie
What do you call an Afrikaans guy that squeezes chickens?
Hendrik.