This historic occasion marks the first time the world-famous Most Influential 100 Recognition & Awards Ceremony, traditionally held in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria.

The week will feature events such as Diaspora Day at the Fela Exhibition (Afrobeat Meets Diaspora), Cultural Heritage Day, and Business Leadership Luncheons, all culminating in the awards celebration.

The evening will honor the Best & Brightest of the Year, recognizing exceptional individuals and institutions whose work has advanced Global African Achievement and Black Excellence across business, government, media, culture, and technology.

Key Recognitions for 2025

• Governor of the Year & City of the Year: Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, honored alongside Lagos as City of the Year for its global leadership in culture, innovation, tourism, and diaspora engagement.
• Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, will be honoured as Minister of the Year for her contribution to the creative economy’s role in nation branding and cultural diplomacy.
• Most Influential Woman of the Year: Olorì Atúwàtse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom
• Most Influential Man of the Year: Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, OANDO
• CEO of the Year: Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria; who will deliver a keynote address, recognized for his transformative leadership and impact on Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital economy.

Others include; Karl Toriola of MTN as CEO of the year, Uche Pedro of Bella Naija as Lifestyle Personality Of The Year, Ojy Okpe of Artise News as Most Influential News Anchor Of The Year, Stephanie Busari as Media Executive of the Year, Kayode Okikiolu as Pressman of the year, Davido as Artist of the year and several others.

In celebrating this year’s honorees, Michael Ehindero, managing director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria,  owners of Martell Cognac, who emerged as Brand Of The Year expressed deep appreciation for the brand’s continued global recognition, saying:

“It’s a great reward for the team who’s delivered Martell excellently in Nigeria over the years. We say thank you to the teams, we say thank you to our consumers and we say thank you to MIPAD. Martell has a lot of promising experiences in the years to come in Nigeria and with this we invite you over to Nigeria to experience Detty December”.

The ceremony will also celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 Honorees, alongside past Nigerian honorees who were unable to attend their year of recognition in New York.

“For the first time, we’re bringing our world-famous recognition platform home to celebrate excellence within the Global Africa Family, right here in Lagos,” said Kamil Olufowobi, founder & chairman of MIPAD. “This is more than an event; it’s a movement uniting the best of us, connecting, collaborating, and working together to change the world.”

Event Details

Lagos, Nigeria: Friday, Dec 19 – #DettyDec Diaspora Day at Fela Exhibition FREE

Sunday, Dec 21 – End of Year Recognition & Award Ceremony STRICTLY BY INVITATION

The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) is a global civil society initiative in support of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2034). MIPAD identifies and celebrates high achievers of African descent worldwide, fostering global recognition, connection, and collaboration.

This prestigious global recognition, organised in support of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent, celebrates individuals creating meaningful change through purpose-driven leadership.

Dania, the CEO of Crello, a cross-border B2B fintech platform, and Alpha-Geek Technologies, a digital innovation firm, is a serial entrepreneur whose impact spans finance, technology, agriculture, energy, and philanthropy.

His inclusion in the 2025 MIPAD honours list is a resounding acknowledgement of his lifelong dedication to empowering communities, advancing sustainability, and leveraging innovation for good.

From Tech to Soil: A Holistic Vision for Impact

Dania’s work in agriculture, through his venture Westnova Farms, focuses on transforming local farming ecosystems using innovative agricultural practices that support food security, economic growth, and environmental conservation.

His dedication to green innovation and regenerative agriculture reflects his belief in building future-proof solutions from the ground up.

In the oil and gas/energy sector, Oluwaseun Dania is widely respected for his expertise in Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) and sustainable energy policy.

He is a sought-after voice on issues surrounding energy transition, corporate responsibility, and green compliance frameworks, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa.

Tech-Driven Philanthropy That Transforms Lives

As founder of the Oluwaseun Dania International Foundation, he leads bold initiatives that impact lives across Nigeria; most notably, teaching children in remote communities to create NFTs through digital art, producing an award-winning film confronting the drug crisis, and building an eco-friendly school from recycled pet bottles to deliver free education.

“This honour from MIPAD goes beyond personal achievement; it reflects the power of a collective mission to uplift, inspire, and transform,” Dania stated. “Whether through fintech, agriculture, or sustainability, I believe that every innovation must answer a social need.”

Global Recognition, African Roots

Previously recognised by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation and profiled in Marquis Who’s Who, Dania has become a leading force in Africa’s digital and social renaissance. He holds over 30 certifications across cybersecurity, engineering, compliance, and enterprise architecture, and is a member of respected global institutions including the Forbes Business Council.

The 2025 MIPAD honorees will be celebrated during United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Week in New York City in September 2025, spotlighting global changemakers of African descent who are redefining leadership through equity, innovation, and action.

*The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) is a global civil society initiative that celebrates individuals of African descent under 40 (in public and private sectors) and over 40 (in legacy impact) who are leading the charge across business, politics, humanitarian work, and culture.

The list recognises individuals who have made remarkable contributions to shaping the future and pioneering innovative solutions within their respective fields.

The announcement comes as Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) released its Q1 2024 results, which showed impressive growth on all indices.

Profit before tax (PBT) grew year-on-year (YoY) by 1,475 percent to N45.7 billion in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1’24) from N2.9 billion in the corresponding period of 2023.

The company also reported a 173 percent YoY growth in revenue to N88.6 billion in Q1’24 from N32.4 billion in Q1’ 23.

The impressive results year after year are testament to Omogiafo’s visionary leadership. Transcorp Group has experienced significant growth and expansion under her leadership having taken up leadership during a difficult time, as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Omogiafo, has led the Group and its subsidiaries, including Transcorp Power, and Transcorp Hotels Plc, back to the path of exponential growth and profitability.

Transcorp Group’s shares ended 2023 as one of the best-performing stocks of the year. The growth has continued in 2024.

Omogiafo’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility has made a positive impact on the lives of millions of people across Africa, in line with Transcorp Group’s purpose of improving lives and transforming Africa.

The MIPAD recognition is, therefore, timely as Omogiafo’s Transcorp releases another impressive result, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading conglomerate in the country, and highlighting her transformational leadership.

The MIPAD recognition is a global initiative that identifies and celebrates outstanding individuals of African descent who are making a positive impact in their communities and the world at large.

Dr. Owen Omogiafo’s inclusion in this prestigious list is a well-deserved honour, acknowledging her tireless efforts to drive economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability in Africa.

The Transcorp President has been recognised by many local and international bodies for her contributions to Nigeria and Africa’s socio-economic growth, including a national award, OON, bestowed on her by the Federal Government of Nigeria last year.