The list of 100 influential Africans has been released by a pan African magazine, ' New African ' Magazine which is based in London.
This was a year that saw over 20 Nigerian school girls abducted by Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, an event Obiageli Ezekwesili was not going to let slip away quietly. Listed by New African for her influence in Civil Society and Activism,
The list of 100 influential Africans has been released by a pan African magazine, ' New African ' Magazine which is based in London.
This was a year that saw over 20 Nigerian school girls abducted by Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, an event Obiageli Ezekwesili was not going to let slip away quietly. Listed by New African for her influence in Civil Society and Activism, Mrs. Ezekwesili, one of the founders of Transparency International used her voice to speak up for those who could not, as she demand #BringbackOurGirls. Slowly but surly this message went viral and the world began to listen.
Names like Aliko Dangote and other business heads such as Donald Kaberuka of the African Development Bank and Carlos Lopes of the Economic Commission for Africa. new faces like that of Ikenna Azuike of BBC and Chester Missing, the puppet which made so much noise in Souther Africa.
Lupita Nyongo also made the list for her contributions in the role she played in the movie " 12 years a slave" which saw her win the Oscar and has also be named as the Glamour woman of the year.
The list had only four African Presidents, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, President Idriss Déby of Chad and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda while brows can be raised that Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan was left out on the list.
In essence, this was a roller coaster year across the continent and the Most Influential Africans of 2014 highlight the key themes, personalities and game changers of the year, for the celebrations and the controversy. A year in review, this edition of New African will also pay tribute to the late BBC Correspondent, Komla Dumor, and Female Genital Mutilation Campaigner, Efua Dorkenoo – African Icons, gone too soon.
The full version of the list will be available in the December issue of New African, available on newsstands from Tuesday.