African Leadership Magazine (ALM) has announced the official nominees for the 2025 African Persons of the Year Awards, following an extensive nomination process that drew entries from across the continent and the African diaspora. Public voting is now open on the ALM website until midnight (GMT+1) on 30 November 2025.

The annual Persons of the Year Awards remain one of Africa’s most prestigious public-choice honours, celebrating leaders whose policies, innovations, and leadership in 2025 are transforming communities and shifting Africa’s development narrative. The selection process includes open public nominations, a shortlist by the Editorial Board based on measurable impact, and a continent-wide digital vote that allows Africans globally to choose the leaders shaping the continent’s future.

The 2025 nominations cut across governance, business, education, youth leadership, philanthropy, public service, peace and security, and other critical sectors. This year’s nominees have demonstrated significant contributions to economic advancement, institutional strengthening, social progress, and Africa’s global positioning.

The winners will be honoured at the 15th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards ceremony scheduled to hold from 27–28 February 2026 in Accra, Ghana, under the theme, “Leadership for a New Africa: Forging Our Peace, Owning Our Narrative.”

Often referred to as the “African Oscars of Leadership and Achievement,” the event continues to attract heads of state, ministers, diplomats, CEOs, innovators, and public policy leaders from across the continent.

2025 Nominees Include:

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 — Secretary-General, Commonwealth of Nations
• Mandisa Maya — Chief Justice, South Africa
• Hend El Sherbini — CEO, Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (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, Senegal Armed Forces
• Mahmoud Ali Youssouf — AU Commission Chairperson, Djibouti
• Mohammed Berrid — Inspector General, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces

African Industrialist of the Year

• Samuel Dossou Aworet — Founder & Chairman, Petrolin Group
• Yacoub Sidya — Founder & CEO, MSS Security (Mauritania)
• Edson R. dos Santos — Chairman & CEO, Etu Energias, Angola
• Phuthuma Nhleko — 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, ICGC
• Rali Mampeule — Founder, 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, South Sudan
• Azarel Ernesta — Speaker, National Assembly, Seychelles
• Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo — CEO, Intratrek Zimbabwe

African Public Sector Leader of the Year

• Charles Anosike — Director General/CEO, NiMet (Nigeria)
• Monique Gieskes — CEO, Plantations & Oil Mills of the Congo
• Ireneu Camacho — 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
• Aaron Motsoaledi — Minister of Health, South Africa
• Paulin Basinga — Director of Health (Africa), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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, AFA (Kenya)
• Girma Amente — Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia
• Alaa Farouk — Minister of Agriculture & Land Reclamation, Egypt
• Arvin Boolell — Minister of Agro-Industry & Food Security, Mauritius

African Government Minister of the Year

• Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui — Cabinet Secretary, Investments & Trade, Kenya
• Estevão Pale — Minister of Mineral Resources & Energy, Mozambique
• Seedy K.M. Keita — Minister of Finance, Gambia
• Nyesom Wike — Minister, FCT, 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 the ALM website, giving the continent an opportunity to celebrate and elevate leaders driving Africa forward.