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Dangote, Pope Leo XIV, Trump, Xi Jinping, Others Named in TIME 100 Most Influential People for 2026
Renowned African industrialist and philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, has been named among TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2026, reaffirming his standing as one of the most successful and iconic business leaders of his generation.
Dangote joins global influential figures from multiple sectors, including political leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, revered Pope Leo XIV, current head of Catholic Church as well as business and technology leaders including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.
The annual TIME100 list, published on April 15, 2026, recognises global figures whose leadership, ideas, and actions are shaping the future across business, politics, culture, and society. Dangote’s inclusion places him alongside prominent international figures drawn from diverse spheres of global influence.
This marks Dangote’s second appearance on the prestigious TIME100 list, following his first recognition in 2014, when he was honoured for his exceptional impact on business and philanthropy. His return to the list more than a decade later underscores the consistency and scale of his influence on the global stage.
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Dangote, who is being recognized for his African industrial drive is the only Nigerian on the list and featured in the titan and innovators category. Other prominent honorees named alongside Dangote in the titan category are Reid Wiseman, Commander of the Artemis II mission to the moon; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet and Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube.
Also featuring prominently under the titan category are Michael and Susan Dell, the high-profile American tech billionaires and philanthropists best known as the founders of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, a global non-profit that focuses on improving the lives of children living in urban poverty. Included here also is the American designer and billionaire, Ralph Lauren, best known for founding the global lifestyle empire Ralph Lauren Corporation.
Recognized in the Pioneer category are individuals with breakthroughs in Science and Social Advocacy such Kiran Musunuru and Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, both of whom were cited for medical breakthroughs in genetic therapy as well as Aaron Williams, recognized for advancements in heart transplant readiness.
Influential figures recognized in global entertainment and culture include Ranbir Kapoor, prominent Indian actor; Dakota Johnson, recognized as an actress and cultural icon and Kate Hudson, included for her cultural influence.
As Founder and President of Dangote Group—Africa’s largest indigenous industrial conglomerate—Dangote has played a central role in advancing industrialisation across the continent. Under his leadership, the Group has made landmark investments spanning cement manufacturing, sugar and food processing, agriculture, infrastructure, and lately energy, significantly reducing Africa’s reliance on imports while creating millions of direct and indirect jobs.
In its citation, TIME Magazine highlighted Dangote’s vision of building African industries with local resources for global competitiveness, noting his recent investments in large‑scale energy and manufacturing infrastructure as emblematic of his long‑term commitment to Africa’s economic transformation.
Beyond business, Dangote is widely acclaimed for his philanthropic leadership through the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), one of Africa’s largest private philanthropic organisations. The Foundation supports critical initiatives across healthcare, nutrition, education, disaster relief, and economic empowerment, contributing to improved outcomes for vulnerable communities across the continent.
The 2026 TIME100 recognition further reflects a broader global acknowledgement of African leadership, innovation, and enterprise, with Dangote standing as a symbol of the continent’s growing influence in shaping global economic and development narratives.
This latest honour consolidates Aliko Dangote’s legacy as a visionary industrialist and philanthropist, whose work continues to drive sustainable development, inclusive growth, and long‑term value creation — both within Africa and beyond.
Under his leadership, Dangote Group recently launched Vision 2030, with which Dangote Industries aims to transform from a regional $30 billion conglomerate into a $100 billion global powerhouse by 2030.
This strategy focuses on industrial self-sufficiency for Africa, moving the group from “regional dominance to global relevance”.
Dangote said the roadmap to vision 2030 is divided into phases to “supercharge” the group’s expansion; with phase one spanning 2025-2028 focused on scaling existing businesses—cement, fertilizer, and energy—and optimizing assets for international competitiveness.
The phase two running from 2028-2030 is for the deployment of new businesses and ventures into global markets to drive the final leap to the $100 billion revenue target. The Dangote Group plans to venture into steel manufacturing, power, and deep-sea ports to tackle industrial bottlenecks across Africa.
This recognition by Time Magazine underscores the growing global acknowledgment of African leadership and innovation, and highlights Aliko Dangote’s enduring influence as a visionary leader committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
The 2026 list underscores the expanding global visibility of African leadership and Dangote’s continued influence as a leading industrialist and philanthropist.
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has reacted strongly to a recent report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that a significant number of Nigerian university students are involved in internet fraud.
The EFCC had reportedly warned that cybercrime is becoming increasingly common among undergraduates, a development it described as a growing national concern requiring urgent attention from authorities, parents, and educational institutions.
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Reacting to the claim, Obi described the situation as deeply troubling, warning that Nigeria may be “raising a generation of fraudsters” if the trend is not urgently addressed.
According to him, if even a large fraction of the allegation is true, it signals not just a crime problem but a broader collapse of values and moral discipline in the country.
He stressed that young people do not operate in isolation, arguing that society, leadership, and institutions all play a role in shaping behaviour. Obi noted that when dishonesty appears to thrive without consequences, it sends the wrong message to the youth.
The former Anambra State governor also called for urgent reforms in governance, education, and value reorientation, insisting that integrity must be restored at all levels of society.
He added that the focus should not only be on condemning young people but on addressing the systems that influence their choices and actions.
Obi further urged leaders to set better examples, warning that a society cannot expect honesty from its youth if accountability is weak at the top.
The EFCC has continued to express concern over rising cybercrime cases in tertiary institutions, describing the trend as a threat to national development and security.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have successfully rescued five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, following their abduction by gunmen in Ogun State.
The students were reportedly kidnapped late Monday night in the Sapade area of Remo North Local Government Area, triggering a swift response from security operatives after a distress call was received around 10:55 p.m. at the Ipara Police Division.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered an ash-coloured Toyota vehicle riddled with bullet holes and stained with blood. Several mobile phones and personal belongings were also recovered from the abandoned car.
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Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said an identity card found at the scene linked the victims to Gateway Polytechnic, prompting an immediate escalation and a full-scale rescue operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, subsequently ordered the deployment of tactical units in what he described as an intelligence-driven mission to secure the students’ release.
Security teams drawn from the Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit, Quick Response Squad, and Operation MESA were mobilised for coordinated bush-combing and tracking operations across suspected escape routes.
The sustained pressure paid off on April 28, when the students were rescued unhurt from their captors.
According to the police, the kidnappers engaged operatives in a gun duel during the rescue effort but were overpowered by superior firepower, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds. No casualties were recorded among security personnel.
“The victims were immediately evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to the conditions they endured while in captivity,” Babaseyi added.
Commending the operatives, Ojajuni praised their gallantry and professionalism, noting that their swift coordination was instrumental to the success of the mission.
He assured residents that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, with intensified bush-combing operations already underway.
The police also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, emphasizing that community cooperation remains critical in the fight against crime.
The government of France has issued an urgent directive to its citizens in Mali, advising them to leave the country immediately following a fresh wave of violent attacks.
In a travel advisory released on Wednesday, the French foreign ministry described the security situation in Mali as “extremely volatile,” citing recent assaults carried out by jihadist groups and Tuareg separatist fighters over the weekend.
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According to the statement, all travel to Mali remains strongly discouraged regardless of purpose, as authorities warned that the risk to foreign nationals has significantly increased.
“French nationals are advised to make arrangements to leave Mali temporarily as soon as possible on the commercial flights that are still available,” the ministry said.
The advisory comes amid renewed concerns over instability in the Sahel region, where armed groups have continued to intensify their operations despite years of military interventions.
President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating security climate in Mali, particularly following the withdrawal of foreign forces and the growing influence of insurgent factions.
Mali has been grappling with insecurity since 2012, as jihadist insurgency, separatist tensions, and political unrest continue to undermine stability in the country.
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