Pope Leo XIV, Trump, Xi Jinping... and Aliko Dangote — ranked among the 100 most influential people in the world in 2026. The annual ranking by the American magazine TIME has once again spotlighted Africa's foremost industrialist and philanthropist. Aliko Dangote has been named among the 100 most influential people in the world for 2026 by TIME Magazine, reaffirming his place among the most successful and iconic business leaders of his generation. Dangote joins influential global figures from multiple sectors, including political leaders such as US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Pope Leo XIV, current head of the Catholic Church, as well as business and technology leaders including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. The annual TIME100 list, published on April 15, 2026, honours global personalities whose leadership, ideas and actions are shaping the future across business, politics, culture and society. Dangote's inclusion places him alongside leading international figures from various spheres of global influence. This is Dangote's second appearance on the prestigious TIME100 list, after his first recognition in 2014, when he was honoured for his exceptional impact on business and philanthropy. His return to the list more than a decade later underscores the consistency and scale of his influence on the world stage. Dangote, recognised for his industrial dynamism across Africa, is the only Nigerian on the list and appears in the Titans and Innovators category. Other top personalities listed alongside Dangote in the Titans category include Reid Wiseman, commander of the Artemis II mission to the Moon; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet; and Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube. Also among the top personalities in the Titan category are Michael and Susan Dell, American tech billionaires and renowned philanthropists best known for founding the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, a global non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of children living in urban poverty. Also featured is American designer and billionaire Ralph Lauren, famed for founding the global lifestyle empire Ralph Lauren Corporation. The Pioneers category honours personalities who have made major breakthroughs in science and social engagement, including Kiran Musunuru and Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, both cited for advances in gene therapy, and Aaron Williams, recognised for progress in cardiac transplant preparedness. Among the influential personalities from the world of entertainment and culture are Ranbir Kapoor, prominent Indian actor; Dakota Johnson, recognised as an actress and cultural icon; and Kate Hudson, cited for her cultural influence. As founder and chairman of the Dangote Group — Africa's largest industrial conglomerate — Dangote has played a central role in promoting industrialisation across the continent. Under his leadership, the group has made historic investments in cement manufacturing, sugar and food processing, agriculture, infrastructure and, most recently, energy, significantly reducing Africa's dependence on imports while creating millions of direct and indirect jobs. In its tribute, TIME Magazine highlighted Dangote's vision of developing African industries from local resources to ensure their global competitiveness, noting that his recent investments in large-scale energy and industrial infrastructure demonstrated his long-term commitment to Africa's economic transformation. Beyond the business world, Aliko Dangote is widely celebrated for his philanthropic leadership through the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), one of Africa's largest private philanthropic organisations. The Foundation supports essential initiatives in health, nutrition, education, disaster relief and economic empowerment, helping to improve the lives of vulnerable communities across the continent. The TIME100 2026 distinction also reflects a broader global recognition of African leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, with Dangote embodying the continent's growing influence in shaping global economic and development narratives. This latest distinction consolidates Aliko Dangote's legacy as a visionary industrialist and philanthropist whose work continues to drive sustainable development, inclusive growth and long-term value creation, both in Africa and beyond. Under his leadership, the Dangote Group recently launched Vision 2030, through which Dangote Industries aims to grow from a $30 billion regional conglomerate into a $100 billion global powerhouse by 2030. This strategy emphasises Africa's industrial self-sufficiency, moving the group from regional dominance to global relevance. Dangote stated that the Vision 2030 roadmap is divided into phases to energise the group's expansion; the first phase, covering 2025–2028, focuses on developing existing activities — cement, fertilisers and energy — and optimising assets to strengthen international competitiveness. The second phase, spanning 2028 to 2030, will be dedicated to deploying new activities and initiatives on global markets to reach the final milestone of $100 billion in revenue. The Dangote Group plans to expand into steel, energy and deep-water ports to address industrial bottlenecks across Africa. This distinction from TIME Magazine underscores the growing global recognition of African leadership and innovation, and highlights Aliko Dangote's enduring influence as a visionary leader committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth. The 2026 ranking underscores the growing global visibility of African leadership and Dangote's enduring influence as a leading industrialist and philanthropist.