…Recognizing Global Leaders Driving the Future of Critical Minerals, Investment, and Industrial Development
The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) today announced the 2026 Top 50 Most Influential People in Solid Minerals, a global recognition honoring leadersshaping the mining and critical minerals ecosystem.
The announcement comes amid accelerating global demand for critical minerals essential to energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies. MIPAD’s 2026 initiative underscores Africa’s growing role in global mineral supply chains, the importance of local beneficiation and value addition, and the central role of capital, policy, and technology in driving sustainable sector growth.
The list is designed not only as a recognition platform, but as a curated gathering of the world’s leading voices and allies in the solid minerals sector—bringing together operators, policymakers, investors, and technology leaders who are collectively shaping the future of global mineral supply chains.
This approach builds on the success of MIPAD’s Solid Minerals Roundtable convened during the 2025 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where senior stakeholders from government, industry, and finance engaged in high-level dialogue on investment, policy alignment, and Africa’s role in the global critical minerals landscape.
Following that engagement, the 2026 list serves as both a recognition and convening mechanism, identifying key actors across the ecosystem and bringing them together once again during UNGA to deepen collaboration, accelerate investment conversations, and strengthen global partnerships.
The 2026 cohort is organized across four segments—Operators & Producers; Services, Tech & Infrastructure; Policy & Government; and Investor & Finance—and reflects leadership from Africa, North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
This year’s honorees include global industry leaders such as Aliko Dangote (CEO, Dangote Cement), Abdul Samad Rabiu (Chairman, BUA Group), Larry Fink (Chairman & CEO, BlackRock), Bob Wilt (CEO, Ma’aden), and Mike Henry (CEO, BHP Group), among others advancing production, investment, and innovation across the sector.
In Policy & Government, honorees include Dele Alake, Gwede Mantashe, and Bogolo Kenewendo, whose leadership is shaping regulatory frameworks and national mining strategies. The Investor & Finance segment features global capital allocators such as George Elombi, Makhtar Diop, and Samaila Zubairu, reflecting the critical role of finance in unlocking large-scale mining investments. In Services, Tech & Infrastructure, leaders including Brendan Bechtel and Andres Blanco highlight the importance of engineering, data, and innovation in advancing the industry.
2026 Convening – New York (UNGA)
Building on the momentum from last year’s roundtable, MIPAD will convene a high-level gathering during the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in New York, bringing together this year’s honorees and key stakeholders for a closed-door dialogue focused on investment, partnerships, and execution pathways.
Honorees will also be recognized at the MIPAD Solid Minerals Recognition Ceremony, creating a unique platform that combines recognition, convening, and deal-making at the highest level.
About MIPAD
The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) is a global civil society initiative supporting the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. MIPAD identifies and celebrates high-impact leaders while convening platforms that advance policy dialogue, investment, and global collaboration.
