Forbes Africa names four Nigerians among 15 Icons for 2026

Four Nigerians, Aliko Dangote, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Abudu and Burna Boy, are among 15 personalities on Forbes Africa’s inaugural Icons list for 2026, Punch reported. The list appears in the magazine’s October-November anniversary edition.

1. Mo Abudu: EbonyLife Group founder, media entrepreneur.
2. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: World Trade Organization director-general.
3. Adrian Gore: South African businessman, Discovery Group founder.
4. Patrice Motsepe: South African businessman, CAF president.
5. Strive Masiyiwa: Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Econet Global executive chairman.
6. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: former Liberian president.
7. Aliko Dangote: Nigerian industrialist, Dangote Group president.
8. Burna Boy: Nigerian singer and songwriter.
9. Abdulrazak Gurnah: Zanzibar-born novelist, Nobel literature laureate.
10. Haile Gebrselassie: Ethiopian athletics legend, businessman.
11. Didier Drogba: former Ivorian footballer.
12. Johann Rupert: South African businessman, Richemont chairman.
13. Lupita Nyong’o: Kenyan-Mexican actor.
14. Trevor Noah: South African comedian, former Daily Show host.
15. Angélique Kidjo: Beninese musician and actor.

Forbes Africa said it chose personalities whose work had made a lasting impact beyond their industries and national borders. The list is in no particular order.