Forbes Africa is ready for you to vote for this year’s African Person of the Year, and has released its list of nominees, which includes a president, an AU leader and an author.
The fourth annual instalment of the award by the monthly magazine needs votes from the greater public for their favourite of the five nominees.
The shortlist includes Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, World Bank vice-president and treasurer Arunma Oteh, entrepreneur and philanthropist Mohammed Dewji and AU chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The grand ceremony will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, at the end of next month.
The award will be given to “the individual who, for better or worse, has had the most influence on events of the year gone by”.
The managing editor of Forbes Africa, Chris Bishop, said: “Every year, I get calls from around the world from journalists about our Person of the Year. This is a prestigious award that draws the eyes of the world.
“What I love most about this award is that the winners use the status of it to carry out good work in Africa that improve lives.”
The judging panel was made up of Bishop; Methil Renuka, editor of Forbes Woman Africa; South African-based political commentator Aubrey Matshiqi; Joseph Bonyo, editorial manager - East Africa for ABN; and West African media personality Peace Hyde.
The award was scooped up by billionaire Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote last year, and in 2013, the award was won by Nigeria’s former minister of agriculture and rural development, and current African Development Bank president, Akinwumi Adesina.
The votes will make up a weighted portion of what will be the judging panel’s final decision.
Votes can be submitted at www.poy2015.com and voting closes next Thursday.
The Star