AFRICA’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has been named in TIME Magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2026, standing out as the only Nigerian to make the global ranking this year.
News Point Nigeria reports that the recognition marks Dangote’s second appearance on the TIME100 list, following his first inclusion in 2014, when Bill Gates wrote a profile celebrating his industrial impact. The 2026 list, released on Wednesday, highlights individuals shaping global conversations across business, politics, culture, religion, and technology.
Other notable figures featured on this year’s list include Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Mark Carney. Also recognised are Pope Leo XIV, alongside technology leaders such as Sundar Pichai and Neal Mohan.
Dangote, who chairs the Dangote Refinery, was listed in the “Titans and Innovators” category, reflecting his growing influence in global industry and Africa’s economic transformation. His business empire, spanning cement, sugar, and oil, continues to position him as a central figure in the continent’s industrialisation drive.
Reacting to the honour on the TIME platform, Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, described Dangote as “indefatigable, resilient, and foresighted,” noting that his entrepreneurial journey exemplifies the potential of Africans to create value using local resources. He particularly highlighted the Dangote Refinery as a landmark project, describing it as Nigeria’s largest and a major boost to Africa’s industrial ambitions.
Elumelu added that Dangote’s influence goes beyond business success, revealing that he draws inspiration from the billionaire during challenging moments. He also praised Dangote’s humility and accessibility, saying he “can always be counted on to return a phone call,” while commending his enduring legacy as a builder of African prosperity.
Explaining the selection process, Sam Jacobs said there is no single formula for determining influence. According to him, the list is shaped by individuals whose actions and ideas define global narratives each year.
“Our selections are led by the stories that are shaping the world and the people who write them,” Jacobs said, adding that the TIME100 continues to evolve by focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, climate change, health, and philanthropy.
He noted that while some honourees are globally recognised, others are influential within their respective fields, which contributes to the enduring appeal of the TIME100 list.
Below is the list of 100 people on the list:
Artists
Luke Combs (by Ed Sheeran)
Jennie (by Gracie Abrams)
Keke Palmer (by Brian Grazer)
Noah Wyle (by LeVar Burton)
Dakota Johnson (by Taylor Swift)
Jafar Panahi (by Nazanin Boniadi)
Claire Danes (by Jesse Eisenberg)
Benicio Del Toro (by Paul Thomas Anderson)
Jonathan Groff (by Sutton Foster)
Ranbir Kapoor (by Ayushmann Khurrana)
Tayari Jones (by Imani Perry)
Noah Kahan (by Marcus Mumford)
Anderson Paak (by Natasha Lyonne)
Rhea Seehorn (by Britt Lower)
Coco Jones (by Jaylen Barron)
Freida McFadden (by E.L. James)
Titans
Zoe Saldaña (by James Cameron)
Ben Stiller (by Bob Odenkirk)
Aliko Dangote (by Tony Elumelu)
Scottie Scheffler (by Tony Romo)
Anok Yai (by Chanel Iman)
Ralph Lauren (by Oprah Winfrey)
Lynsey Addario (by Katie Couric)
Susan Dell and Michael Dell (by Ray Dalio)
Sundar Pichai (by Andrew Ng)
David Ellison (by Jerry Bruckheimer)
Precious Matsoso and Anne-Claire Amprou (by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala)
Lip-Bu Tan (by Harry Booth)
Innovators
Nikki Glaser (by Chris Rock)
Hilary Knight (by Malala Yousafzai)
Vikas Khanna (by Eric Ripert)
Lando Norris (by Paris Hilton)
Mashama Bailey (by Kamala Harris)
Matthieu Blazy (by Margaret Qualley)
Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei (by Billy Perrigo)
Noah Lyles (by Willy Chavarria)
Yiyun Li (by Salman Rushdie)
Tony Tyson (by Risa Wechsler)
Cao Fei (by Miuccia Prada)
John Furner (by Brian Niccol)
Jeremy Allaire (by Denelle Dixon)
Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari (by Kyla Mandel)
Luciano Moreira (by Scott O’Neill)
Neal Mohan (by Belinda Luscombe)
Sabrina Walter (by Anna Mutavati)
Icons
Wagner Moura (by Jeremy Strong)
Kate Hudson (by Mindy Kaling)
Alysa Liu (by Bowen Yang)
Hilary Duff (by Nicole Richie)
Alan Cumming (by Lisa Kudrow)
Sterling Brown (By Kristen Bell)
Ethan Hawke
Chloe Kim
Shirin Ebadi
Walter Hood
Victoria Beckham
Rauw Alejandro
Kica Matos
Leaders
Pope Leo XIV
Claudia Sheinbaun
Marco Rubio
Donald Trump
Mark Carney
Zohran Mamdani
Xi Jinping
Sanae Takaichi
Benjamin Netanyahu
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Steve Witkoff
Gavin Newsom
Gwynne Shotwell
Balendra Shah
Susie Wiles
Tarique Rahman
Mark Kelly
Heather Gerken
Dan Caine
Henna Virkkunen
Rafael Mariano Grossi
Mette Frederiksen
Jacob Frey
Fatih Biro
Pioneers
Dolores Huerta
Reid Wiseman
Josh D’Amaro
Mamadou Amadou Ly
Nancy Silverton
MrBeast
Mariangela Hungria
C Wei
Lauren Hersh
Rachel Foster
Shannon Minter
Zabib Musa Loro
Sarah Friar
Kiran Musunuru
Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas