The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) has announced that leading figures across governance, business, media, and entertainment will be honoured at the Lagos Diaspora Experience 2025, culminating in the End-of-Year Awards and Celebration scheduled for Sunday, December 21, 2025, in Lagos.
Among those to be recognised are Afrobeats star Davido, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola, and several other notable personalities.
The week-long Lagos Diaspora Experience is designed as a celebration of African culture, innovation, and global connection. It will feature a series of events including Diaspora Day at the Fela Exhibition, Cultural Heritage Day, and Business Leadership Luncheons, ahead of the awards ceremony.
Notably, the 2025 edition marks the first time the world-renowned Most Influential 100 Recognition & Awards Ceremony, traditionally held annually in New York alongside the United Nations General Assembly, will take place in Lagos.
According to the organisers, the awards will honour individuals and institutions whose work has significantly advanced global African achievement and Black excellence across sectors such as government, business, culture, media, and technology.
Karl Toriola and other key Honourees for 2025
Governor and City of the Year: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with Lagos recognised as City of the Year for its leadership in culture, innovation, tourism, and diaspora engagement.
Minister of the Year: Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, for her contributions to nation branding and cultural diplomacy.
Most Influential Woman of the Year: Olorì Atúwàtse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom.
Most Influential Man of the Year: Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer of OANDO.
CEO of the Year: Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, recognised for his impact on Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital economy. He is also expected to deliver a keynote address at the event.
Other award recipients include Uche Pedro, founder of BellaNaija, as Lifestyle Personality of the Year; Ojy Okpe of Arise News as Most Influential News Anchor of the Year; Stephanie Busari as Media Executive of the Year; Kayode Okikiolu as Pressman of the Year; and Davido as Artist of the Year, among others.
During the announcement, Michael Ehindero, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Nigeria, whose Martell Cognac brand emerged as Brand of the Year, expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing it as a reward for years of consistent performance in Nigeria’s premium beverage market.
The ceremony will also celebrate members of the Class of 2025 Honourees, alongside past Nigerian recipients who were unable to attend their award ceremonies in New York in previous years.
Speaking on the significance of hosting the awards in Lagos, Kamil Olufowobi, Founder and Chairman of MIPAD, said the move reflects a commitment to celebrating excellence within the Global African community on the continent.
“For the first time, we are bringing our world-famous recognition platform home to celebrate excellence within the Global Africa family, right here in Lagos,” he said.
The Lagos Diaspora Experience will commence on Friday, December 19, with the Diaspora Day event at the Fela Exhibition, while the main awards ceremony on December 21 will be strictly by invitation.
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