Okonjo-Iweala & Aliko Dangote Makes Time’s ‘100 Most Influential List

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Time Magazine shared why Beyoncé  was chosen:

“In December, she took the world by surprise when she released a new album, complete with videos, and announced it on Facebook and Instagram. Beyoncé shattered music-industry rules — and sales records.

One song includes words by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: “We say to girls, ‘You can have ambition, but not too much.’ ”

Beyoncé has insisted that girls “run the world” and declared, “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss.” She raises her voice both on- and offstage to urge women to be independent and lead.”

Time Magazine chose those of great influence in five categories, including the Titans, Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, and Icons.

 

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (pictured) also made the list for the great work she has done in ensuring that Nigeria’s oil profits are used to build infrastructure and development across the nation.

Bono of U2 penned the Time piece on  Okonjo-Iweala, writing:

 “I first met economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala when she was campaigning for Nigerian debt relief. We’d been fighting our way through capitals around the world trying to get Cold War–era debts canceled for the poorest, most heavily indebted countries.

 During her first term as Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi arrived at her desk to find a weighty $30 billion owed. With oil prices on the rise, she stopped having to plead with her creditors and bought a massive chunk of her own debt so she could cancel it herself. As if to make a point. She became a legend in that moment.

“Humor and joy spill out of her, which can belie the fact that she’s got one of the toughest jobs on the planet — how to ensure that the tens of billions of dollars earned each year in oil receipts go into productive usage, like agriculture, infrastructure, health and education.

Ngozi has made corruption her enemy and stability her goal. She is fiercely intelligent; everyone wants her to work with them. I couldn’t be prouder to work for her.”

 Aliko Dangote (pictured), President of Dangote Group, made the list as well and Bill Gates shared why he made the list as a Titan:

 “Aliko is Africa’s richest man, and his business activities drive economic growth across the continent. That’s impressive, but I know him best as a leader constantly in search of ways to bridge the gap between private business and public health. It’s for that reason he helped create the Nigeria Private Sector Health Alliance. And it’s for that reason he is an advocate for agricultural research and malaria control.”

See who else made the iconic list here.