Breaking: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Mandisa Maya, Other Leaders Named African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year 2025

Abuja: African Leadership Magazine (ALM) is excited to announce the winners of the African Persons of the Year (POTY) 2025 Awards, concluding a rigorous three-stage process that included continent-wide public nominations, a comprehensive editorial review, and a highly competitive global online poll that closed on 30 November 2025. This year's exercise recorded exceptional engagement from Africans across the world, underscoring widespread public interest in celebrating leadership excellence across governance, business, philanthropy, innovation, and public service. According to African Press Organization, the ALM Persons of the Year Awards is Africa's premier public-choice recognition, celebrating leaders whose vision, courage, and innovative actions in 2025 are shaping the continent's development trajectory. Among the distinguished honourees, H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia, and H.E. Mandisa Maya, Chief Justice of South Africa, emerged as recipients of African Political Leader of the Year an d African Female Leader of the Year, respectively. The 2025 winners collectively embody a pan-African community of trailblazers whose work spans sectors and geographies but aligned a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development, strengthening institutional resilience, and driving inclusive economic growth on the continent. In his statement, Dr. Ken Giami, Publisher of African Leadership Magazine, highlighted that 'As Africans, we must champion our own stories and recognise 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.' The winners and runners-up will be formally presented with the awards trophy and instruments of honour during the flagship annual African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year awards ceremony, scheduled for 27-28 February 2026 in Accra, Ghana. The highlights of the event would include the POTY awards presentation, high-level plenary, business investment showcases, states and countries' investment opportunities showcases, roundtable discussions, and multi-networking sessions, as well as an unveiling of the African Leadership Magazine special POTY edition. The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year (POTY) Ceremony is Africa's premier annual celebration of visionary leadership and excellence, convened by African Leadership Magazine (ALM). Now in its 15th year, the event brings together heads of state, policymakers, corporate leaders, and development partners to recognise individuals and institutions driving people-centred, transformative leadership across the continent. The 2026 edition promises to be bigger than previous editions as it projects to host over 400 delegates and reach a global digital audience of more than one million through live streaming and media partnerships, spotlighting transformative governance, peacebuilding, economic cooperation, and sustainable devel opment.