Cmr'nian makes Forbes list of 10 most powerful men in Africa

The authoritative Forbes International Magazine has published its list of powerful men in Africa for the year 2015. Cameroonian born NJ Ayuk who moonlights as managing partner of Centurion LLP won a place in Forbes classification.

These are the first 5 as reported by Forbes Magazine:

Victor Ochen, Uganda

Victor Ochen, 33-year old former child victim of war-turned-crusader for youth leadership and advocate for the rights of war victims, was nominated for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). As founder African Youth Initiative Network (Ayinet), Ochen joins Mussie Zerai, an Italian priest of Eritrean descent, Pope France and Edward Snowden as nominees for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. In his thanks to the AFSC for the nomination, Ochen said he hoped, “that this nomination will contribute to a change of the perception of Africa’s youth. We are not a tool of injustice, but agents of prosperity and peace.”

Edwin Macharia, Kenya

Recently named a Young Global Leader, class of 2015 by the World Economic Forum, Edwin Macharia came to prominence in his role as Director of Agriculture with the Clinton Foundation where he led partnership-building and operations in agriculture for a $100Million USD initiative focused on effecting holistic development at the grassroot-levels. Currently a partner at Dalberg, based in Nairobi, Kenya, Macharia advises developing countries’ governments, international organizations, and corporations among others on a range of issues including strategy, operational optimization, and program execution.

NJ Ayuk, Equatorial Guinea

NJ Ayuk, managing partner at Centurion LLP, a law firm which advises the government of Equatorial Guinea on oil and gas deals and contracts, launched his firm back in 2009 with two other lawyers. The U.S-educated attorney (J.D and M.B.A) was motivated by the tremendous market potential of international businesses and investors interested in doing business on the continent, especially in the energy sector. Under Ayuk’s exceptional leadership, Centurion grew from just two employees to 35 employees and became the largest law firm in Equatorial Guinea. Centurion is said to have signed the highest number of oil and gas deals in Africa. From working as a housekeeper at a hotel and as a server at a fast food restaurant in Germany at the age of 16-years, today Ayuk is one of the continent’s leading African oil and gas lawyers.

Mbwana Alliy, Tanzania

Mention venture capital, technology in Africa and invariably the name Mbwana Alliy comes up. Alliy is the founder and managing partner of Savannah Fund, an Africa-focused technology venture capital that runs both an accelerator and a venture fund that ranges from $25,000 to $500,000 USD in seed capital for early stage high growth technology (mobile and web) startups in sub-Saharan Africa. Alliy is a well-respected in the tech community in Africa; “Through Savannah Fund Alliy has given African startups a real chance. Not only did Savannah Fund invest in us, they also enable us to get to Silicon Valley,” wrote Rodgers Muhadi of Card Planet.

Moustapha Ben Barka, Mali

One of Mali’s emerging political leaders, Moustapha Ben Barka was recently named Deputy Secretary General in the Office of the President of the Republic of Mali. Recently named a Young Global Leader, class of 2015 by the World Economic Forum, Barka mostly recently served in the Government of Mali as Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance where he was in charge of investment and promotion of the private sector. Prior, he served as Minister of Industry and Investment Promotion.