FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
…Accra, Ghana, Set to Host the 2025 Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards Ceremony
London – United Kingdom
5 November 2025
The African Leadership Magazine (ALM) has officially announced the opening of nominations for the 14th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards 2025, the continent’s premier recognition platform celebrating exemplary Africans whose leadership, innovation, and impact have shaped Africa’s development narrative and elevated its global standing. In keeping with its tradition of spotlighting trailblazers driving transformation across governance, business, and social sectors, ALM invites the public, institutions, and partners across Africa and the diaspora to nominate outstanding individuals and organisations making a measurable difference in their communities and beyond. Nominations will remain open until 13 November 2025.
READ ALSO: Nominations Now Open for the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards 2024
The ALM Persons of the Year Awards is Africa’s leading vote-based recognition, honouring individuals who are advancing the continent’s development, inspiring positive change, and reshaping Africa’s global image. The awards employ a three-step selection process, offering the African public worldwide an opportunity to participate in nominating and voting for Africa’s most inspiring leaders across sectors, including:
1. Call for Nominations – Public, industry, and organisational submissions. The call for nominations marks the beginning of a dynamic awards cycle that will culminate in the celebration of Africa’s finest leaders.
2. Editorial Board Review – ALM’s Editorial Board evaluates nominations and shortlists candidates for each category for the next stage, based on…
3. Voting Stage – The public votes online to determine the winners from the shortlisted nominees.
The winners of the ALM Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards 2025 will be formally presented with their trophies and instruments of honour during the Awards Ceremony, scheduled to hold from 27–28 February 2025 in Accra, Ghana. The event, a flagship annual gathering of the African Leadership Magazine, has been held consecutively for over 15 years and brings together policymakers, business executives, civil society leaders, and thought leaders from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on strategies for advancing the continent’s socio-economic transformation.
Past recipients of the ALM Persons of the Year Awards include H.E. President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi; H.E. President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone; H.E. President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana; H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania; H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation; Mo Ibrahim, Founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; and Nigerian industrialist Femi Otedola, among others.
Award Categories for 2025 Include:
• The African of the Year— open to an African whose actions have positively impacted the continent in the year under review, helped shape their immediate society, and whose work inspires Afro-positivism globally.
• African Female Leader of the Year— open to an African woman who has defied the odds and risen above the patriarchal systems in the continent to positively affect the continent or influence women to aspire for excellence in various fields.
• African Political Leader of the Year— open to an African, whose contribution has immensely contributed to deepening democracy and democratic values on the continent.
• African Educationist of the Year— open to an African whose contribution to the growth of education, and deepening knowledge has been second to none in the year under review. It is also reserved for a member of the academic community whose research or policy has contributed to shaping their country’s economic growth and development.
• Africa Peace & Security Leader of the Year— open to defence and security heads across the continent, with visible strides in protecting lives and property in their countries and the larger society. Nominees are also expected to subscribe to high standards of personal accountability in pursuing their vision.
• African Industrialist of the Year— open to an African whose actions, policies, and business have helped create jobs for Africans in the year under review.
• African Philanthropist of the Year— open to an African who has given more to support a charitable cause, social justice and promote social good.
• Young African Leader of the Year— open for persons between the ages of 18-42; Young persons of African descent, making a difference globally via diverse sectors such as business, IT, entertainment, sports, etc., remaining a positive role model and redefining creativity, resilience, hard work and ingenuity of the continent’s young people.
• African Public Sector Leader of the Year— open to Heads of Government institutions that combine political leadership presence with a technocratic approach, exemplifying excellence, integrity and transparency to address the needs of the populace, as well as drive change, policy innovation, extraordinary value and exceptional leadership.
• African Public Health Champion of the Year— open to individuals who are making outstanding contributions to public health in Africa, by protecting and promoting the well-being of the people of Africa and building strong healthcare systems and infrastructures at the community and national levels.
• African Agricultural Development Leader of the Year— open to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in advancing agricultural development across Africa through the implementation of impactful policies, spearheading transformative initiatives, or driving significant improvements in agricultural productivity, sustainability, and food security.
• African Government Minister of the Year—open to serving government ministers across Africa who have exhibited exceptional leadership, vision, and impact in their respective portfolios, as well as implemented policies, reforms, and initiatives that have driven transformative change, improved governance, and contributed to national or regional development in significant ways.
• African Lawmaker of the Year—open to lawmakers across Africa who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to legislative excellence, public service, and nation-building, as well as significantly advanced democratic governance, socio-economic development, and the well-being of their constituents.
How to Make a Nomination:
• By email: nominations@africanleadership.co.uk
• Via social media DM (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) using #ALMPOTY2025
Nominations must include the nominee’s full name, the relevant award category, supporting evidence (2–3 pages, documents, links, videos), and contact information for the nominator and/or nominee.
Who Can Nominate:
• Africans and friends of Africa globally
• Self-nominations are accepted
• Organisations may submit nominations
About African Leadership Magazine
The African Leadership Magazine is published by the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited. Since its maiden edition in August 2008, the African Leadership Magazine has grown to become a leading pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication read by over 1,200,000 targeted international investors, business executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the United States of America. We have committed the last 19 years to promoting impactful leadership on the continent and promoting African opportunities globally through an ecosystem of quality Afro-positive content, Africa trade facilitation and market entry solutions, Afro-centric communities and business networking platforms, as well as through public sector training and consulting.
Media Contact:
Ehis Ayere
Group General Manager
African Leadership Magazine UK
ehis@africanleadership.co.uk
+44 (0) 23 9265 8276
