by Rachel Ogbu

This year three Nigerians including Forbes regular, Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group have made it to the shorlist for Forbes African Person of the Year Award.

For one of this year’s most sort after honour, Dangote was nominated based on how much his net worth has significantly increased as a result of his continued business successes in various sectors of Africa’s economy, including oil and gas, petro-chemicals, transport and haulage, manufacturing allowing him to better the lives of millions.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina was also shorlisted based on his plan to make Nigeria a self-sustaining, food-producing nation, which hopes to register over 20 million farmers by 2015.

Chairman of the Zenith Bank Group, Jim Ovia was listed for his bank’s achievement as West Africa’s second largest financial services provider. Forbes says “his focus has turned to helping grow Africa’s budding ‘techpreneurs’.

Other Africans who made the shortlist for the December award set to hold in Nairobi, Kenya includes Strive Masiyiwa, founder of global telecoms group, Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe and South African mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe.