Headline

Meet 9 African Leaders Who Made TIME 100 Most Influential People List

Published

4 months ago

April 17, 2025

The TIME100 Most Influential People of 2025 spotlights African leaders reshaping politics, science, media, and culture—driving progress at home and globally. Their inclusion highlights Africa’s growing role in global discussions on health, technology, and leadership.

TIME CEO Jessica Sibley said the list honors those “shaping the world today and defining its future.” Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs noted record numbers of CEOs and justice advocates from 32 countries.

Here is a list of the nine African leaders who made this year’s cut:

1. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – Ethiopia
Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

As the first African to lead the WHO, Dr. Tedros has played a critical role in global health diplomacy, particularly in navigating the COVID-19 crisis. Under his leadership, the WHO has emphasized equitable access to healthcare, vaccines, and pandemic preparedness.

2. Dr. Duma Boko – Botswana
President of Botswana

Dr. Boko made history by unseating the party that had governed Botswana since its independence nearly six decades ago. His leadership focuses on democratic renewal, sustainable development, and innovation—positioning Botswana as a beacon of effective governance in Africa.

3. Mo Abudu – Nigeria
Media Entrepreneur and CEO, EbonyLife Media

Dubbed the “Oprah of Africa,” Mo Abudu is transforming how African stories are told. Through her $50 million Afro Film Fund and partnerships with global platforms like Netflix, she is elevating African voices and narratives on the world stage.

4. Dr. Christian Happi – Cameroonian
Genomics Pioneer and Professor of Molecular Biology

Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Happi is at the forefront of research on disease outbreaks in Africa. His work on diagnostic tools and public health strategies has been vital in tackling viruses like Ebola and Lassa fever.

5. Dr. Ismahane Elouafi – Morocco
Executive Managing Director, CGIAR

Dr. Elouafi is a trailblazer in agricultural science, developing climate-resilient crops and sustainable farming solutions to combat hunger and improve food security, especially in drought-prone regions.

6. Kwame Onwuachi – Nigeria/USA
Chef and Culinary Visionary

Celebrated for bringing African and Caribbean flavors to the forefront of fine dining, Chef Onwuachi blends tradition with innovation. His restaurants tell stories of heritage, resilience, and excellence in spaces that once overlooked Black chefs.

7. Mickalene Thomas – USA
Multidisciplinary Artist

Though American, Mickalene Thomas draws heavily from African and diasporic aesthetics in her vibrant, multimedia work. Through painting, photography, and design, she explores themes of Black identity and womanhood, rooted in African visual traditions.

8. Fatou Baldeh – The Gambia
Women’s Rights Activist

A fierce advocate against female genital mutilation (FGM), Fatou Baldeh has become a leading voice in the fight for women’s rights across West Africa. Her activism has earned her a place among TIME’s Women of the Year for 2025.

9. Angeline Murimirwa – Zimbabwe
CEO, CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education)

An alumna of CAMFED herself, Angeline is now its CEO, supporting girls’ education in Zimbabwe, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania. As a finalist for the Africa Education Medal 2024, she exemplifies how empowered girls can become tomorrow’s leaders.

Headline

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

6 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

6 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

6 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”