FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London, United Kingdom
16 October 2026
African Leadership Magazine invites the public, institutions and the African diaspora to nominate outstanding leaders whose vision, achievements and measurable impact are advancing Africa’s development and inspiring positive change.
The African Leadership Magazine (ALM) has officially opened nominations for the 15th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards 2026, inviting Africans and friends of Africa worldwide to identify and recognise individuals whose leadership, innovation and achievements are helping shape the continent’s future.
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Across Africa, leaders are transforming institutions, creating opportunities, strengthening communities, advancing innovation and developing solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. Their work deserves recognition, their achievements deserve greater visibility, and their example can inspire a new generation of Africans to lead with purpose and deliver meaningful change.
The ALM Persons of the Year Awards provide a platform for celebrating such leadership, recognising individuals whose contributions demonstrate excellence, integrity, innovation and a commitment to Africa’s progress. From governance and business to education, healthcare, agriculture, peace and security, the awards spotlight those translating vision into tangible results and making a difference in the lives of people across the continent.
As nominations open, ALM calls on individuals, institutions, professional associations, civil society organisations and members of the African diaspora to put forward deserving candidates whose achievements merit wider recognition.
The ALM Persons of the Year Awards follow a three-stage selection process:
- Call for Nominations: Individuals, organisations and institutions submit candidates with supporting evidence of their achievements.
- Editorial Board Review: ALM’s Editorial Board assesses nominations against the relevant category criteria and shortlists eligible candidates.
- Public Voting: The public votes online for shortlisted candidates, with winners determined in accordance with the established voting procedures.
The winners of the 2026 awards cycle will be formally recognised at the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards Ceremony on 26 – 27 February 2027 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nominations close on 2 November 2026.
AWARD CATEGORIES FOR 2026
Nominations are invited across the following 13 categories:
- African of the Year — Recognises an African whose leadership and achievements have made an exceptional contribution to the continent’s development and strengthened its standing globally.
- African Female Leader of the Year — Honours an African woman whose achievements have advanced her field, challenged barriers and created opportunities for other women and girls.
- African Political Leader of the Year — Recognises a political leader whose contributions have advanced democratic governance, strengthened institutions and promoted accountability and public service.
- African Educationist of the Year — Honours an educationist, academic or researcher whose work has advanced educational access, academic excellence, knowledge creation or development-focused policy.
- Africa Peace and Security Leader of the Year — Recognises a leader whose work has strengthened peace, security and the protection of lives and property, with due regard for accountability and responsible leadership.
- African Industrialist of the Year — Honours an industrialist whose enterprise, investments or initiatives have expanded productive capacity, created employment and supported Africa’s industrial development.
- African Philanthropist of the Year — Recognises an individual whose philanthropic work has delivered meaningful social impact through charitable giving, community development, social justice or support for vulnerable populations.
- Young African Leader of the Year — Honours an individual aged 18–42 whose achievements demonstrate exceptional leadership, creativity and innovation across business, technology, sports, entertainment or other sectors.
- African Public Sector Leader of the Year — Recognises a public sector leader whose integrity, policy innovation and institutional leadership have improved public service delivery and generated measurable value for citizens.
- African Public Health Champion of the Year — Honours an individual whose work has advanced public health, strengthened healthcare systems or improved access to essential health services.
- African Agricultural Development Leader of the Year — Recognises a leader whose policies, investments or initiatives have advanced agricultural productivity, sustainable farming, agribusiness or food security.
- African Government Minister of the Year — Honours a serving African government minister whose leadership and policy initiatives have delivered significant results within their portfolio and contributed to national or regional development.
- African Lawmaker of the Year — Recognises a legislator whose commitment to legislative excellence, effective representation and public service has advanced democratic governance or socio-economic development.
Who is making a difference in your community, transforming your industry, strengthening public institutions or creating opportunities for others? The search for Africa’s outstanding leaders begins with you.
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION
Nominations should clearly demonstrate the candidate’s achievements, relevance to the selected category and evidence of impact.
Submission channels
- Email: nominations@africanleadership.co.uk
- Social media: Send a direct message through African Leadership Magazine’s official Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn channels, using #ALMPOTY2026.
Each nomination should include:
- The nominee’s full name and current designation.
- The relevant award category.
- A statement outlining the nominee’s achievements and suitability for the award.
- Supporting evidence, such as reports, documents, credible media coverage, links or videos. A supporting submission of approximately two to three pages is encouraged.
- Contact details for the nominator and, where available, the nominee.
Nominations are welcome from Africans and friends of Africa worldwide, including individuals, organisations, professional associations, public institutions and civil society groups. Self-nominations are also accepted, subject to the official awards rules.
Over the years, the ALM Persons of the Year Awards have recognised prominent figures across politics, business, philanthropy, healthcare and international development. Past recipients have included H.E. Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi; H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone; H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of Ghana; H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of Tanzania; H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria; Dr Akinwumi Adesina, former President of the African Development Bank Group; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Mo Ibrahim, founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; and Nigerian industrialist Femi Otedola, among other distinguished individuals.
About African Leadership Magazine
The African Leadership Magazine is the flagship publication of the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited. For more than 19 years, ALM has been dedicated to promoting impact-driven leadership in Africa, strengthening African voices globally through Afro-positive editorial content, trade facilitation, business networking, and public-sector capacity-building. With over 30 million readers across 35+ countries, ALM has become a trusted convener of conversations that define Africa’s trajectory, illuminating the stories of Africa’s finest — from boardrooms to State Houses — building bridges between African leadership and global recognition. Hosting the 2026 edition in Accra, Ghana — a symbol of peace, democracy, and Pan-African pride — reaffirms the Magazine’s commitment to unity, purpose, and African-led transformation.
MEDIA CONTACT
Ehis Ayere
Group General Manager
African Leadership Organisation (UK)
Publisher of African Leadership Magazine
Email: ehis@africanleadership.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 23 9265 8276
