It has become somewhat difficult to compile a list of commendable leaders in Africa.
In 2016, Mo Ibrahim noted that no African leader qualified for his Africa Leadership Award. The billionaire philanthropist created the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to promote good governance on the continent.
The well-intentioned leadership award winner will receive $5 million over 10 years and $200,000 per year for life. Unfortunately, none of our guides qualified for the lavish reward.
Most of the biggest trendsetters in leadership in Africa came from earlier times.
Leadership deficit is one of the biggest obstacles in Africa. However, some politicians and business leaders of our time have shown some commendable leadership.
1. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Country: Liberia
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is Africa’s first woman president. She is the 24th and current President of Liberia. Since taking office as President of Liberia, the respected leader has made an important contribution to stabilizing the country.
The Liberian President is a 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Her peaceful and non-violent struggle for women’s rights and safety earned her the prestigious international award.
Ellen was recognized as a woman of exemplary leadership. For two consecutive years, she was ranked 70th and 96th in the Forbes list of the world’s most powerful women.
In 2013, the Amazon received the Indira Gandhi Prize from Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
2.Paul Kagame
Country: Rwanda
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda will not go unnoticed in the history of the once troubled nation. With Kagame, the consequences of the genocide found a way out in the perception and image of the country.
His dedication and vision to transform the nation brought great hope to the country. So much so that Rwanda has become one of the most respected countries in Africa. He has raised the face of the nation with an ever-improving economy and technological developments.
3. Kofi Atta Annan
Country: Ghana
Here is another internationally renowned African with commendable leadership qualities.
The Ghanaian diplomat was the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations. He served from January 1997 to December 2006. Kofi’s appointment made him the first black African to hold the position.
For his immense efforts under the United Nations to promote peace and order in the world, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
His quest for peace still didn’t stop when he left office. Kofi advocates for more inclusive youth in the administration of African countries.
4.Ngozi Okonjo Iweala
Country: Nigeria
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a notable Nigerian leader in the business sector. Iweala has a pretty good feel for numbers.
She served two terms as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance. She worked for 4 years as one of the executive directors of the World Bank.
While handling the finances of Nigeria’s regime of Olusegun Obasanjo and later Goodluck Ebele Jonathan when the economy was deemed to be at its all-time high. She stuck to a transparent policy that stabilized the Nigerian economy at the time.
The Harvard and MIT educated economist has become Nigeria’s first finance minister and foreign minister to smash the glass ceiling.
Forbes named her the 44th and 48th most powerful woman in the world in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
She is presently appointed as a director of a UK bank.
5. Ian Khama
Country: Botswana
It was once rumored that Botswana’s President Seretse Khama Ian Khama was named the world’s best president by the United Nations.
President Ian Khama has been widely praised for the national economy under his watch. Huffington Post reported that in the wake of the 2007-2009 recession, Botswana went from having one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world of $70 to a median income of $16,300 in just a few decades. He also intends to diversify the economy by shifting as much reliance on the nation’s diamonds.
Ian is the son of Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana’s first post-independence leader. He is one of the African presidents who warned about sit-tight syndrome. He publicly called on Mugabe to step down while declaring that 10 years should be the maximum for any leader.
CNN recognizes him as a man of dignity inspiring a new generation of African leaders.
6.John Magufuli
Country: Tanzania
Magufuli took power as head of state in 2015 with 58% electoral votes. The President’s reputation in his early days as Secretary of Operations earned him the Presidential seat.
The bulldozer has kept his promise on a mission to eliminate unwanted excesses from the state administration. He immediately began cutting back on the government’s wasteful spending and doing the work for dodgy officials. The “Bulldozer”, as it is affectionately known, is welcomed for the implementation of the tuition reduction policy.
Although Magufuli has recently been criticized by some for being too tight, he is equally praised for being the disciplinarian that he is.
7. John Mahama
Country: Ghana
John Mahama is one of the Ghanaian Presidents most loved by the people. He is considered a “supporter of the less privileged”. During his reign he implemented educational reforms and supported well over 1000 school projects.
On December 15, 2015, Mahama launched Accounting to the People , a book consisting of his accomplishments to date.
In the last parliamentary elections in Ghana, he set a good example and peacefully handed it over to his opponent, the current President Nana Akufo.
8. Good luck, Jonathan
Country: Nigeria
The former President of Nigeria is synonymous with the economic boom that briefly propelled Nigeria into a leading global economy. Under his watch, the private sector was highly empowered.
The international community praises him most for his defeat in Nigeria’s 2015 general election.
Jonathan has been recognized by the African Sun Times with multiple leadership awards and Africa’s international Person of the Year award
9. Jakaya Kikwete
Country: Tanzania
Jakaya preceded Magufuli. After ten years in office, Jakaya said he was glad to be able to retire. A few months ago, pictures of the leader in his corn farm were seen on the Internet. He is proof that life after his presidency can still have tremendous meaning.
“We must also understand in Africa that we can set an example and that power is not an end in itself”
Jakaya Kikwete was named the Sun Times African Statesman of the Year for respecting the rule of law and resigning whenever he should.
During his tenure, Jakaya was also known for paying off Tanzania’s foreign debt.
10. Thuli Madonsela
Country: South Africa
Late last year, Thuli Madonsela won ForbesAfrika’s Person of the Year as the continent’s most influential business person. Thuli is the former public protector of South Africa. She served in this role from October 19, 2009 to October 14, 2016.
She is best known for her daring investigations into South African President Zuma’s misuse of public funds.
Thuli Madonsela was named one of the 5 Extraordinary Women in the World by the Tällberg Foundation and was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time Magazine in 2014.