Accra: African Leadership Magazine (ALM) has announced the recipients of the African Persons of the Year (POTY) 2025 Awards, finalizing a rigorous selection process that featured continent-wide public nominations, an extensive editorial review, and a global online poll, which concluded on November 30, 2025. This year’s awards witnessed remarkable participation from Africans worldwide, reflecting the significant public interest in recognizing leadership excellence across various sectors such as governance, business, philanthropy, innovation, and public service.
According to African Press Organization, the ALM Persons of the Year Awards is Africa’s foremost public-choice recognition event, honoring leaders whose visionary initiatives, courage, and innovative actions throughout 2025 have been pivotal in shaping the continent’s developmental path. Among the honored leaders, H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia, and H.E. Mandisa Maya, Chief Justice of South Africa, were recognized as African Politica
l Leader of the Year and African Female Leader of the Year, respectively. The 2025 awardees represent a pan-African community of trailblazers dedicated to promoting sustainable development, enhancing institutional resilience, and fostering inclusive economic growth across the continent.
Dr. Ken Giami, Publisher of African Leadership Magazine, emphasized the importance of celebrating African stories and leaders who are actively shaping the continent’s future. He stated, “As Africans, we must champion our own stories and recognize those shaping the continent’s future. This year’s awardees exemplify leadership that strengthens institutions, drives innovation, safeguards peace, and unlocks opportunity – showing what is possible when Africans lead with vision, courage, and purpose.”
Winners and runners-up will be formally awarded during the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year awards ceremony, set for February 27-28, 2026, in Accra, Ghana. The event will feature the POTY awards presentation, high-leve
l plenaries, business investment showcases, investment opportunities displays, roundtable discussions, multi-networking sessions, and the unveiling of the African Leadership Magazine’s special POTY edition.
The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Ceremony is a premier annual event celebrating visionary leadership and excellence, organized by African Leadership Magazine (ALM). Now in its 15th year, the event gathers heads of state, policymakers, corporate leaders, and development partners to acknowledge individuals and institutions leading transformative and people-centric initiatives across Africa. The 2026 edition aims to surpass previous events by hosting over 400 delegates and reaching a global digital audience exceeding one million through live streaming and media partnerships, highlighting transformative governance, peacebuilding, economic cooperation, and sustainable development.