Dangote, Ovia and Adesina Nominated for Forbes Person of the Year Award

Forbes Africa has unveiled its final list of its Person of the Year Award for 2013. The award consists of personalities from three African countries; Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Voting has commenced online, and Forbes provides a profile for the five nominees, Patrice Motsepe (South Africa), Akinwunmi Adesina (Nigeria), Aliko Dangote (Nigeria), Strive Masiyiwa (Zimbabwe) and Jim Ovia (Nigeria). South African mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe, plans on giving away more than half his fortune over the next five years. Akinwunmi Adesina is Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and his vision is to make Nigeria a self-sustaining, food-producing nation and register 20 million farmers by 2015. Aliko Dangote is Africa’s richest man and his net worth has significantly increased on the back of his continued business success, allowing him to better the lives of millions. Strive Masiyiwa is the founder of global telecoms group, Econet Wireless, and through Capernaum Trust he educates tens of thousands of Zimbabwean orphans. Jim Ovia established Zenith Bank Group in 1990 – now West Africa’s second largest financial services provider. His focus has turned to helping grow Africa’s budding ‘techpreneurs’.