The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) has officially opened nominations for its highly anticipated Best of the Year 2026 Awards, to be held in Lagos, Nigeria. The announcement was made on June 18th, 2026 coinciding with the United Nations Sustainable Gastronomy Day, marking a powerful intersection of African excellence, culture, and global recognition.
In celebration of the United Nations Sustainable Gastronomy Day, MIPAD executives joined a landmark Gathering of Stakeholders Taking Nigerian Cuisine Global; a high-level convening of public and private sector decision-makers committed to elevating Nigerian cuisine on the world stage.
The gathering brought together a distinguished assembly of chefs, restaurateurs, culinary entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, hospitality leaders, media professionals, influencers, and cultural ambassadors all united by a shared vision of positioning Nigerian cuisine as a globally celebrated culinary tradition.
The MIPAD Best of the Year 2026 Awards will celebrate outstanding individuals of African descent who have demonstrated remarkable impact across key sectors including Politics & Governance, Business & Entrepreneurship, Media & Culture, and Humanitarian & Religious affairs. The End of Year edition, hosted in Lagos, underscores MIPAD’s commitment to Africa as both a home and a hub of global influence.
Speaking on the 2026 nominees, Kamil Olufowobi, Founder & Chairman of Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), said ‘we are absolutely thrilled to open nominations for the MIPAD Best of the Year 2026 Awards here in Lagos, and the energy surrounding this year’s class is unlike anything we have seen before. Africa is producing world-class leaders, innovators, and cultural titans at a pace that commands global attention, and it is our honour and mission to shine the brightest light on them. MIPAD exists to tell these stories with the pride, precision and power they deserve, and I invite the world to join us in celebrating the most compelling generation of African achievers we have ever had the privilege of recognising’.
Nominations are now open. Members of the public, institutions, and organizations are encouraged to submit nominees who exemplify excellence and have made meaningful contributions to the advancement of people of African descent worldwide.
About MIPAD
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.
