Dangote Joins Trump, Pope Leo On TIME Most Influential People 2026

Nigerian business titan Aliko Dangote has been named among the world’s 100 most influential people as TIME released its prestigious TIME100 list for 2026.

Dangote, Africa’s richest man and founder of the Dangote Group, is the only Nigerian on the list. He features in the Titans category for his drive to industrialise Africa through major investments in cement, sugar, fertiliser, and the landmark Dangote Refinery, Nigeria’s largest and one of the world’s biggest.

This marks his second appearance on the TIME100, following his debut in 2014.

Writing the tribute this year is fellow Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu, who described Dangote as “indefatigable, resilient, and foresighted.”

Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, praised Dangote as “one of the greatest African entrepreneurs of our time,” adding that he has shown Africans can create value “with our own resources, on our continent.”

The tribute comes full circle, as Dangote once wrote Elumelu’s profile when the banker made the list in 2020.

The 2026 TIME100, now in its 23rd edition, spotlights individuals shaping politics, business, culture, technology and society. Other major names include U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and tech leaders such as Google’s Sundar Pichai and YouTube’s Neal Mohan.

Global political figures on the list also include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and several members of the Trump administration.

For Nigeria and Africa, Dangote’s recognition carries symbolic weight amid economic challenges and ongoing debates around self-reliance.

His Dangote Refinery represents a major industrial push aimed at reducing dependence on imported petroleum products, creating jobs, and boosting local manufacturing.

Analysts say the honour reinforces Dangote’s role as a symbol of African entrepreneurship and resilience, countering negative narratives about the continent and inspiring a new generation of business leaders.

The TIME100 list is not ranked numerically but grouped into categories including Titans, Leaders, Innovators, Icons, Artists and Pioneers.

The announcement comes alongside global covers featuring figures such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, ahead of the TIME100 Summit scheduled for April 22 in New York.

The full 2026 TIME100 list and tributes are available on times official website