Among the 23 Nigerians who made the list is 11-year-old Zuriel
Oduwole (Nigerian), who was featured in the magazine for her fight for
the education of women.
Also, the oldest woman on the list is the former foreign minister of
Somaliland, Edna Adan (76), famous for fighting for women’s rights and
health.
Other notable names in the list are music producer Don Jazzy,
business mogul Aliko Dangote, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Idris Elba,
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Alek Wek, Chiwetei Ejiofor, David Adjaye, DJ
Sbu, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, Dr Precious
Moloi-Motsepe, El Anatsui, Lupita Nyong’o, Omar Sy, P Square, Trevor
Noah, Fatuomata Diawaraa and NoViolet Bulawayo.
On the selection of the influential people, the magazine said: “In
defining what passes for ‘influence’, New African has been careful to
note that while there is indeed for a wide array of qualities and
proclivities that earmark people as ‘influential’, a person’s impact on
the wide public, social and political community is one of the greatest
indicators of influence. Bearing in mind that popularity doesn’t
necessarily mean influential, New African Magazine has compiled its list
of 100 most influential Africans, 23 of them being Nigerians.” “The
list offers a glimpse into the diverse breed of young and established
leaders intent on reinventing the face of Africa…They include
entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, political game-changers, and sporting
record breakers to name but a few.”
Miss Oduwole, who lives in California in the United States, first
made history when she became the youngest person to be interviewed by
the influential Forbes Magazine. The award winning documentary film
maker, conference speaker and writer is featured in the August 2013
edition of Forbes Africa.
A widely travelled girl, so far, she has visited China (where she
learnt to speak and write Mandara or Chinese she speaks a bit of Hausa,
Yoruba and Igbo). She has visited Switzerland, France, United Kingdom,
Grenada, Turkey, Antigua, Australia, Fiji, Mexico, Ghana, Egypt,
Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania and, of course, Nigeria, her
fatherland.
Oduwole was born and raised in the United States and, of mixed parentage, a Nigerian father and an American-Jewish mother.
Her name Zuriel is Hebrew name which means ‘For God is my Rock’
Touted by some as the next Oprah Winfrey, Oduwole is reportedly
committed to rebrand Africa by showing the positive things in about the
continent, and making the case for education the Girl Child in Africa
and Emerging Markets
At age 11, Oduwole has interviewed leading African personalities,
including eight African presidents, Africa’s richest person Aliko
Dangote and tennis super stars – Venus and Serena Williams.
The young Nigerian, featured on the magazine for her fight for the education of women
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