The 15 most powerful people in African business 2025

Africa is home to visionaries, disruptors, and empire builders—individuals who have transcended borders, industries, and expectations to shape the continent’s economic future. 

These powerhouses command boardrooms, influence governments, drive billion-dollar industries, and revolutionize technology.

From moguls who control vast economic empires to tech innovators leading the digital revolution and political heavyweights redefining governance, this exclusive list showcases the 15 Most Powerful People in African Business. 

Their influence extends far beyond the continent, making them key players on the global stage.

Power isn’t just about wealth or position—it’s about impact, vision, and the ability to shape the future. 

These are the game-changers, the kingmakers, and the forces behind Africa’s meteoric rise.

1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria)

Founder & CEO, Dangote Group
As Africa’s wealthiest individual, Dangote’s industrial empire spans cement, agriculture, and oil refining. His $19 billion Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa, is set to transform the continent’s energy sector. A philanthropist and global business leader, he plays a key role in shaping Africa’s economic trajectory.

2. Mohammed Dewji (Tanzania)

CEO, MeTL Group
Tanzania’s only dollar billionaire, Dewji leads MeTL Group, a conglomerate spanning textiles, food processing, and agriculture across 10 African countries. A signatory of The Giving Pledge, he has committed half his fortune to philanthropy and remains one of East Africa’s most influential business figures.

3. Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe)

Chairman, Econet Group
A pioneer of telecom and fintech innovation in Africa, Masiyiwa’s Econet Wireless has expanded across multiple continents. His ventures in renewable energy and digital banking continue to shape Africa’s future. A global influencer, he sits on major international boards, including Netflix and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

4. Prateek Suri (Africa)

Chairman & CEO, Maser Group
Known as the “Technology Tiger of Africa”, Suri built Maser Group, a consumer electronics and AI-driven venture, into a multi-billion-dollar empire. With a net worth of $1.4 billion, he has spearheaded frontier technologies, mining, infrastructure, and AI investments across Africa and the Gulf region.

5. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria)

Executive Chairman, BUA Group
As Nigeria’s second-richest man, Rabiu’s BUA Group dominates the cement, sugar, and infrastructure sectors. His vast investments in ports, real estate, and agriculture make him one of Africa’s most powerful business figures.

6. Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa)

Chairman, De Beers Group
Heir to the De Beers diamond fortune, Oppenheimer sold his 40% stake in the company for $5.1 billion in 2012. He remains one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals, with large investments in aviation, conservation, and private equity.

7. James Mwangi (Kenya)

CEO, Equity Bank
The driving force behind Equity Bank’s rise, Mwangi transformed a small microfinance institution into East Africa’s largest financial services provider. A global thought leader, he is an advisor to the United Nations and World Economic Forum.

8. Rebecca Amukhoye (Kenya)

CEO, Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT)
A champion of agricultural finance, Amukhoye has led MESPT in empowering smallholder farmers through sustainable investment and microfinance programs. She is a rising force in Africa’s agribusiness sector.

9. Wale Tinubu (Nigeria)

CEO, Oando Plc
A corporate titan in Africa’s oil and gas industry, Tinubu built Oando into Nigeria’s largest indigenous energy company. A member of the World Economic Forum, he plays a key role in shaping Africa’s energy policies.

10. Koos Bekker (South Africa)

CEO, Naspers
Bekker transformed Naspers into Africa’s biggest media and technology conglomerate, with stakes in Tencent, DSTV, and Mail.ru. He is a pioneer in digital investment and one of Africa’s most successful business strategists.

11. Karen Eicker (South Africa)

Managing Director, Apex Information Systems
A trailblazer in digital communications, Eicker’s leadership in corporate architecture and tech infrastructure has made her a key player in South Africa’s information systems industry.

12. Manali Sheth (South Africa)

Managing Director, eSoft Development
From a Software Analyst to a CEO, Sheth has redefined Africa’s tech landscape, focusing on digital transformation and AI-driven solutions.

13. Naguib Sawiris (Egypt)

CEO, Orascom Telecom Holding
A telecom pioneer and political influencer, Sawiris built Orascom into a global telecom powerhouse and played a key role in Egypt’s political transition.

14. Abdeslam Ahizoune (Morocco)

Chairman & CEO, Maroc Telecom
The architect of Morocco’s telecom revolution, Ahizoune leads one of Africa’s largest telecommunications companies and serves on major global industry boards.

15. Patrice Motsepe (South Africa)

Chairman, African Rainbow Minerals
South Africa’s first Black billionaire, Motsepe leads African Rainbow Minerals, one of the continent’s top mining and resources firms. He is also the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

These 15 power players represent Africa’s economic transformation, proving that the continent is not just a land of opportunity but a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.