From the first African woman to lead the IOC (Kirsty Coventry) to the first African heads of the WTO, WHO and African Development Bank, a new generation of Africans is occupying the highest rooms in global institutions.

No doubt, the world is paying more attention to Africa now than ever before, thanks to the many vibrant and dynamic African individuals making giant strides across the globe. These African geniuses’ global exploits are helping to shape the global view of Africa as a rising continent that has effectively come of age. These great individuals have helped to change the narrative about Africa by presenting to the world the latent but ubiquitous remarkable talents available in the continent.

A new Africa is emerging; a confident Africa whose talents are stepping forward to confront global challenges and to put their stamp on issues and efforts to achieve global prosperity. Africa is becoming prominent globally and it is fast shaking off the perception that Africa is just a basket case and a continent that is plagued by poverty and conflicts.

Africa’s leading lights are numerous and they represent every facet of human endeavours. Most of them live and operate within the continent and they are, in their respective style, helping to change the negative global perception of Africa as an unprogressive continent and its people as indolent and laid back. But for the purpose of this exercise, we will be focussing on some of these great Africans making the continent proud.

These include some Africans in high political office, in global business and those presently holding key international appointments and playing pivotal roles in international organizations. These notable African personalities are the representative sample of notable Africans who contribute a great deal in improving global governance across various sectors.