TheCable

36 outstanding Nigerians have been listed in the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Global 100 Under 40 Class of 2023.

Over the years, MIPAD, a global civil society initiative supporting the International Decade for People of African Descent, has recognised outstanding high achievers of African descent for their positive contributions to humanity.

Kamil Olufowobi, chief executive officer of MIPAD, said the global lists contain the group’s effort towards highlighting the positive contributions made by people of African descent across the globe.

“We continue to amplify global black narratives and showcase the many untold stories of our struggles and triumphs in every corner of the world – sometimes in unexpected places and high positions,” he said.

The class of 2023 global top 100 under 40 list is segmented into four categories: politics and governance; business and entrepreneurship; media and culture; and activism and humanitarian endeavors.

Among those on the list is Hamzat Lawal, the CEO of Connected Development (CODE), and the founder of ‘Follow The Money’, a social accountability initiative.

Lawal is listed in the activism and humanitarian category alongside Amaka Amatokwu-Ndekwu, founder of Women in Hospitality NG, and Anna Ekeledo, executive director of AfriLabs foundation.

The award comes few weeks after Lawal was honoured with the African Humanitarian Award at the maiden edition of the African Heritage Awards held in Kigali, Rwanda.

In 2021, BeyGOOD Global Citizens Fellowship, founded by Beyonce Knowles, appointed Mallam Lawal to the advisory council for the 2021 Global Citizen Fellowship Program.

A year before, Mallam Lawal was listed as a Malala Fund Education Champion alongside 57 others.

Nigerian athlete and world record holder, Oluwatobi Amusan, was named in the media and culture category alongside reality stars, Beauty Tukura and Elozonam Ogbolu.

In the business and entrepreneurship category, Nigerians listed include Adedayo Amzat, founder and CEO of Zedcrest Investment Managers, Azeez Amida, CEO of Pan African Towers, among others.