As the year 2018 begins on an upbeat note, BusinessDay has announced it will be publishing an annual list of the 50 Most Influential figures in Nigeria for the preceding year. This inaugural list is a compilation of individuals whose impact was most keenly felt by the general public during the course of the year and will be released at the end of January 2018 at a high profile cocktail event. The BD50 will comprise of various categories such as Business & Finance, Health & Medicine, State & Federal Government, Arts & Culture, Media & Technology, Pioneers & Entrepreneurs, Faith & Religion, Influencers & Crusaders, Sports & Education, Rising Stars, Law & Equality, Leaders & Problem Solvers, Authors & Journalists and the Posthumous.
The list aims to recognize and highlight the contributions and influence of the shortlisted characters on the larger society. The 2017 Business Day 50 list aims to celebrate excellence while identifying those that have made meaningful impact within society in 2017.
Naturally, there are the usual suspects like Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu who build companies or develop ideas that shape the national economy but there are also young artists like Davido and Wizkid who are recording huge successes globally through their craft. 2017 was also a year of government reforms and progressive economic policies, so the list will include political office holders like Akinwunmi Ambode, Jumoke Oduwole and Prof. Yemi Osibajo who have shown their commitment to creating a people based government. In the fields of technology, health and sports there are people inventing the future, reforming academia and pushing boundaries such as Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Ola Orekunrin and Alex Iwobi. The list will be a combination of familiar faces and newer faces as well.
The 2017 BusinessDay 50 list is being vetted by dozens of reporters, analyst, editors and pundits who have dedicated much time over the holidays to ensuring an unbiased perspective on the activities and happenings of the previous year.
