The 15 Most Powerful People in African Business 2025
Africa is rising — and at the helm are visionaries, disruptors, and empire builders who are redefining what it means to lead on a global scale.
These powerhouses span industries from tech and telecoms to mining and media. They are not just business moguls; they are influencers of policy, champions of innovation, and architects of the continent’s future. From boardrooms in Lagos and Nairobi to global stages in Davos and Dubai, these are the 15 most powerful figures in African business in 2025.
Power in Africa today is not measured by wealth alone. It’s about influence, resilience, and impact — the ability to drive change, shape industries, and uplift communities. These individuals embody that power.
1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria)
Founder & CEO, Dangote Group
Africa’s richest man remains a towering force in industry. Dangote’s empire spans cement, agriculture, and now energy, with the launch of his $19 billion Dangote Refinery poised to revolutionize the continent’s oil landscape. A global philanthropist and policy influencer, he continues to shape Africa’s economic trajectory.
2. Mohammed Dewji (Tanzania)
CEO, MeTL Group
Tanzania’s only dollar billionaire, Dewji leads a diversified conglomerate with operations in over 10 African countries. His commitment to philanthropy — including pledging half his fortune to charity — solidifies his status as one of East Africa’s most impactful business leaders.
3. Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe)
Chairman, Econet Group
A pioneer in telecoms and fintech, Masiyiwa has taken Econet global while championing green energy and digital inclusion. His influence spans international boards including Netflix and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making him one of Africa’s foremost global business ambassadors.
4. Prateek Suri (Pan-Africa/Gulf)
Chairman & CEO, Maser Group
Nicknamed the “Technology Tiger of Africa,” Suri is the continent’s richest Indian and one of its youngest billionaires. His Maser Group empire spans consumer electronics, AI, mining, and infrastructure, with a net worth of $1.4 billion. His investments and philanthropy are reshaping digital and industrial Africa.
5. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria)
Executive Chairman, BUA Group
Rabiu’s influence rivals Dangote’s in Nigeria’s industrial scene. His BUA Group leads in cement, sugar, ports, and real estate, with deep investments in food security and infrastructure across West Africa.
6. Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa)
Chairman, De Beers Group (Former)
Although he sold his stake in De Beers for $5.1 billion in 2012, Oppenheimer remains one of Africa’s richest men. He now focuses on private equity, aviation, and wildlife conservation — a legacy of wealth and sustainability.
7. James Mwangi (Kenya)
CEO, Equity Bank
Mwangi transformed Equity Bank from a small micro-lender into East Africa’s largest financial institution. A respected global voice in inclusive finance, he advises the UN and World Economic Forum on development strategy.
8. Rebecca Amukhoye (Kenya)
CEO, Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT)
Amukhoye is leading the charge in agricultural finance. Under her leadership, MESPT has empowered thousands of smallholder farmers with access to credit and sustainable investment, placing her at the forefront of Africa’s food systems revolution.
9. Wale Tinubu (Nigeria)
CEO, Oando Plc
Tinubu has built Oando into Nigeria’s largest indigenous energy firm. A key voice in the continent’s oil and gas sector, he also advises global think tanks and is a fixture at energy forums shaping policy in Africa and beyond.
10. Koos Bekker (South Africa)
Chairman, Naspers
A digital media mogul, Bekker turned Naspers into Africa’s largest tech investor, with global stakes in Tencent, DSTV and Mail.ru. He’s a shrewd strategist whose digital vision has redefined African media and venture capital.
11. Karen Eicker (South Africa)
Managing Director, Apex Information Systems
Eicker is one of the most influential women in African tech infrastructure. Her work in digital architecture and systems design has made Apex a critical player in South Africa’s government and corporate IT ecosystems.
12. Manali Sheth (South Africa)
Managing Director, eSoft Development
From software analyst to CEO, Sheth has led eSoft in pioneering AI-powered digital transformation across industries. Her rise symbolizes the growing power of women in Africa’s tech revolution.
13. Naguib Sawiris (Egypt)
Chairman, Orascom Investment Holding
A telecoms titan and political influencer, Sawiris expanded Orascom into a multinational giant and played a pivotal role in Egypt’s post-revolution economy. His business interests now stretch into mining, media, and finance.
14. Abdeslam Ahizoune (Morocco)
Chairman & CEO, Maroc Telecom
Ahizoune is the architect of Morocco’s telecom boom. As head of one of Africa’s largest telcos, he influences policy and infrastructure development across the Maghreb and beyond.
15. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa)
Chairman, African Rainbow Minerals; President, CAF
Motsepe is a mining magnate and South Africa’s first Black billionaire. His leadership at African Rainbow Minerals and his role as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) underline his wide-reaching influence in both business and sport.
These 15 leaders are shaping the present and future of African business. Their influence stretches from city slums to boardroom skyscrapers and from grassroots startups to global policy circles. Together, they represent a continent in motion — bold, ambitious, and globally relevant.
