Sanomi, Tara, Nwuneli, others, make Young African Leaders’ list

The Institut Choisuel, a world-renowned think tank for international politics and geo-economics, has released its 2016 list of top 100 Africans, who it had identified and ranked as young African leaders of 40 years old and under, who will play a major role in the development of Africa in the near future.

The list consists of young African business leaders, successful entrepreneurs and investors across various sectors, ranging from oil and gas, finance, mining, ecommerce, agro-business, information technology etc. These young Africans embody the dynamism and renewal of the African continent and carry the hopes of an entire generation.

The top 5 Africans on the list are Mohammed Deweji (40), Chief Executive Officer, MeTL, from Tanzania; Mehdi Tazi (39), Chief Executive Officer, Saham Assurance Morocco, from Morocco; Busisa Moyo (34), Chief Executive Officer, United Refineries, from Zimbabwe; Zukie Siyotula (34), Chief Executive Officer, Three Capital, from South Africa and Igho Sanomi (40), Chief Executive Officer, Taleveras, From Nigeria.

Meanwhile, ten per cent of Africans on the list are from Nigeria, with most countries in Africa being represented on the list. According to the current and founding President of Institut Choisuel, Dr. Pascal Lorot, who was in Nigeria recently, the Choiseul 100 Africa list was created to show a more positive image of Africa with young economic talents, who are key actors in their economies or their sub regions.

Dr. Pascal’s visit is ahead of the 4th Choiseul 100 Africa meeting in November, which is to take place in Lagos, Nigeria. This will be the first of the Choiseul100 Africa meetings to hold in Sub Saharan Africa. The meeting in will comprise of a session with the Lagos State Governor, an award ceremony of the Choiseul 100 Africa Laureates, a panel discussion and a meeting with the African film festival.

As part of his visit to Nigeria Dr. Pascal met with Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State; Laurent Polonceaux, French Consul General in Lagos; Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, and Ken Etete, CEO, Century Energy Services Limited.

Besides Igho Sanomi, who made the Top 5 Africans on the list, other Nigerians in the 2016 list include Abayomi Awobokun, GM, Oando Downstream, Ada Osakwe, CEO, Afrolat Ventures, Rotimi Williams, CEO, Kereksuk, Ladi Delano, General Manager, Bakrie Delano Africa, Chinwe Ajene-Sagna, West Africa Director, Jones Lang LaSalle, Tara Fela-Durotoye, CEO, House of Tara International, Ndidi Nwuneli, GM LEAP Africa, and Kamil Olufowobi, Director of Acceptance Development, MasterCard, West Africa.