Dangote joins Trump, Xi, Pope Leo on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026 list

Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote and US President Donald Trump are among the 100 Most Influential People of 2026 named by TIME magazine, with Dangote—the only Nigerian on the list—recognized in the Titans category for driving Africa’s industrial transformation through large-scale investments in manufacturing and energy.

TIME magazine on Wednesday released its annual list of the world’s 100 Most Influential People, with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and US President Donald Trump among the prominent figures recognised for shaping global affairs in 2026. The list, published April 15, spans business, politics, technology, science and culture, featuring four worldwide covers highlighting comedian Nikki Glaser, actors Zoe Saldaña and Wagner Moura, and singer Luke Combs.

Dangote, featured in the Titans category, makes his second TIME 100 appearance, having first been honoured in 2014. As founder of Africa’s largest indigenous industrial conglomerate, TIME cited his long-term vision of building globally competitive industries using African resources, pointing to large-scale investments in cement, fertiliser, sugar refining and energy infrastructure. His inclusion coincides with the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 roadmap, targeting growth from a $30 billion regional player to a $100 billion global enterprise.

Trump appears alongside an expansive roster of global leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Other African honourees include Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Precious Matsoso, Anok Yai, Mamadou Amadou Ly and Zabib Musa Loro. Business and technology figures recognised include Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube chief Neal Mohan, while the list also features Dolores Huerta, Victoria Beckham, Ralph Lauren and Ranbir Kapoor.