Dangote Named Africa Most Powerful Man

         

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named the most powerful man in Africa and 64th in the world by theForbesmagazine. Dangote, who is also said to be the richest blackman in the world with a net worth of $20.1bn , was ranked ahead of the likes of Fifa President, Sepp Blatter (69); Speaker, United States House of Representatives, John Boehner (66); and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim (71).

The 56-year-old, Dangote, whose company is considered one of the most diversified on the list, is currently ranked 43 on theForbeslist of the world’s billionaires with his net worth over time said to be on the rise.

Dangote is making a name for himself on the philanthropic circuit and has given away millions to education, health and social causes in Africa.” Apart from Dangote, Jimoh Ibrahim is the only other African on the list, which contains 72 people. Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, topped the list, displacing United States President, Barrack Obama, who dropped to the second spot for the first time in three years. Chinese President, Xi Jinping, occupies the third spot, while the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, debuts on the list at number four. Pope Francis, who was elected in March this year, leads 12 other new entrants.

Other notable new names on the list are Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-Hee (41); Volkswagen’s Martin Winterkorn (49); South Korean President, Park Geun-hye (52); and Janet Yellen (72), who has been nominated by President Obama as the next leader of the US Federal Reserves. The Executive Editor of theNew York Times, Jill Abramson (68), makes a return appearance after dropping off the list in years past.

Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, aged 29, and North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un, aged 30, are the youngest people on the list. Zuckerberg occupies the 24th place, while Kim is ranked 46th. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who occupies the eight spot, is the oldest person on the list. He is 89 years old. The world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, is, however, not the most powerful man.

The América Móvil honorary chairman occupies the 12th position. According toForbes, the Most Powerful People in the World list is an annual snapshot of the heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs, who truly rule the world. “It represents the collective wisdom of topForbeseditors, who consider hundreds of nominees before ranking the planet’s top 72 power-brokers – one for every 100 million people on earth – based on their scope of influence and their financial resources relative to their peers,” the magazine explained. This year’s list features 17 heads of state, who run nations with a combined Gross Domestic Product of some $48tn.

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