Most Influential 100

Call for Nominations - Most Influential Global Top 100 Class of 2026! 👇🏾Nominate

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

A distinguished moment of recognition and leadership

The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during which the Governor of the Year Award was formally presented.

[Gabriel Elizondo @elizondogabriel]

Today UN Secretary General @antonioguterres announced what he says is the first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to "helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies."

The UN received more than 2600 applications and final 40 members of the group have been sent to the UN General Assembly for sign off.

The list is experts from all over the world and comprises 19 women and 21 men.

"The panel will help the world separate facts from fakes, and science from slop," Guterres told reporters at the UN. "It will provide an authoritative reference point at a moment when reliable, unbiased understanding of AI has never been more critical."

The experts the SG is proposing for the panel are people from machine learning, data governance, public health, cybersecurity, childhood development and human rights, among other fields.

The panel's first report is expected by July and work will go on for about two years.

⬇️Names of experts picked/country or origin ⬇️

(And X handle where applicable)

Girmaw Abebe Tadesse (Ethiopia)
@girmawAT

Tuka Alhanai (United Arab Emirates)
@tukaalhanai

Joëlle Barral (France)

Yoshua Bengio (Canada)
@Yoshua_Bengio

Tegawendé Bissyandé (Burkina Faso)

Loreto Bravo (Chile)
@lbravoc

Mark Coeckelbergh (Belgium)
@MCoeckelbergh

Carlos Coello Coello (Mexico)

Melahat Bilge Demirköz (Türkiye)
@BilgeDemirkoz

Adji Bousso Dieng (Senegal)
@adjiboussodieng

Awa Bousso Dramé (Cabo Verde)
@DrAwaBDrame

Mennatallah El-Assady (Egypt)
@melassady

Hoda Heidari (Iran)
@HodaHeidari

Juho Kim (Republic of Korea)
@imjuhokim

Anna Korhonen (Finland)
@annalkorhonen

Aleksandra Korolova (Latvia)
@korolova

Vipin Kumar (USA)

Sonia Livingstone (UK)
@Livingstone_S

Qinghua Lu (Australia)
@qinghualu

Teresa Ludermir (Brazil)

Vukosi Marivate (South Africa)
@vukosi

Bilal Mateen (Pakistan)
@Bilal_A_Mateen

Yutaka Matsuo (Japan)

Joyce Nakatumba Nabende (Uganda)
@j_nabende

Andrei Neznamov (Russia)

Maximilian Nickel (Germany)
@mnick

Rita Orji (Nigeria)
@ritapurity

Román Orús (Spain)
@OrusRoman

Alvitta Ottley (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
@alvittao

Martha Palmer (USA)

Johanna Pirker (Austria)
@JoeyPrink

Balaraman Ravindran (India)
@ravi_iitm

Maria Ressa (Philippines)
@mariaressa

Lior Rokach (Israel)
@LiorRokach

Piotr Sankowski (Poland)
@piotrsankowski

Silvio Savarese (Italy)
@silviocinguetta

Bernhard Schölkopf (Germany)
@bschoelkopf

Haitao Song (China)

Leslie Teo (Singapore)

Jian Wang (China)
@JianWang

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

MIPAD has appointed Mwende Mbevi as Canada Country Director, ahead of the 2026 release of the Top 10 Most Influential People of African Descent to Watch in Canada

Read more 👇🏿👇🏿
https://t.co/YvsgdtVnCK

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

#MIPAD #MIPAD100 #HappyNewYear2026 #10thEdition #AfricanExcellence #GlobalImpact #Leadership #AfricanDiaspora #DecadeOfInfluence #CelebratingExcellence

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

A decade of influence. A future of greater impact.
As we step boldly into 2026, MIPAD proudly celebrates its 10th Edition—ten years of recognizing, amplifying, and honoring the Most Influential People of African Descent across the globe.

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

inspiring future generations, and shaping a more inclusive and impactful global narrative. From all of us at MIPAD, we wish you a prosperous, purposeful, and inspiring New Year.

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

Highest Honor of the Night - CEO OF THE YEAR - Dr. Karl Olutokun Toriola @MTNNG with his Executive Team and Board Chairman Dr. Earnest Ndukwe – Godfather of GSM in Nigeria. Thank you @MTNNG

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

More Highlights - Class of 2025 End of Year Awards Honorees 🥰🔥

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

Merry Christmas from all of us at MIPAD ✨

Wishing you love, joy, and peace this season.
Thank you for being part of our global community. ❤️

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

Swipe to see highlights from the visit.

#MIPAD #GovernorOfTheYear #BabajideSanwoOlu #LagosState #Leadership #ExcellenceInGovernance #AfricanLeadership #CourtesyVisit

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

A distinguished moment of recognition and leadership

The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during which the Governor of the Year Award was formally presented.

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

collaboration, and sustainable development that continues to position Lagos as a model for progress and innovation in Africa.

[Martell Nigeria @martellnigeria]

Looking back to an incredible launch of MartellOnTheMove

Unveiling two iconic symbols, The Swift Ascendant and The Voyager. A tribute to the soaring spirit, and audacious legacy of Maison Martell.

Each symbol is an invitation to stand out. Tag a friend who defies expectations.

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

LAGOS DIASPORA EXPERIENCE 2025 - Starts DEC 19TH AFROBEAT Meets DIASPORA #Lagos #DettyDec - https://t.co/PsbJd1TNTX

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

Last Chance: Are You Coming to Africa? #DettyDec #NewYear - https://t.co/64SEq4S3K7

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

[Tues Nov 4th] Join us for MIPAD Travel Desk Show with Crystal Cummings - https://t.co/lxZpwQsQ4S

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

MIPAD Travel Desk NOW OPEN! Exciting Trips: Bahia (Nov), Lagos (Detty Dec), Accra (New Year). https://t.co/wNQEngXpku

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

Enjoy Recap 2025 Recognition Week #80thUNGA #NewYork - https://t.co/JfsAmRrgOK

[Most Influential 100 @MIPAD100]

Thank You & 2025 Feedback Survey - https://t.co/UocjKLmtfe