President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and businessman Tony Elumelu have been shortlisted among 100 prominent Nigerians featured in the Maddtimes Power List Coffee Table Book.
The publication is produced by Maddtimes, a cultural and media platform dedicated to documenting influential Nigerian figures across politics, business, traditional institutions and public life.
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The initiative, led by Joseph Edgar, popularly known as the Duke of Shomolu, forms part of a broader publishing and storytelling effort aimed at preserving contemporary Nigerian history through innovative formats.
In a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Maddtimes said advertising icon Biodun Shobanjo and banking executive Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe were also among those recognised for their enduring leadership and impact on Nigeria’s national trajectory.
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Publication
The publication, a 537-page collector’s edition, is scheduled for launch in October 2026, with high-profile unveiling events planned in Lagos and Abuja.
It emerged from more than seven months of intensive research, profiling and editorial work led by Mr Edgar as publisher and editor.
Regarded as one of the most thorough independent accounts of power, influence, and leadership in modern Nigeria, the book provides an in-depth and illuminating look at the country’s dynamic landscape.
Anchored on the theme “Visionary Leadership as a Catalyst for National Socio-Economic Growth,” it features 50 compelling essays by esteemed intellectuals and public figures.
Contributors
The publication features contributions from former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III, legal scholar Kanyinsola Ajayi, policy analyst Magnus Onyibe, and former House of Representatives member Dakuku Peterside, alongside other accomplished essayists.
Reflecting on the publication, Mr Edgar described it as a coffee table collection that celebrates charismatic leadership in its truest form, highlighting individuals who have harnessed it to make meaningful societal impact.
He stated that the work offers a fair and candid account, recognising both those who have positively influenced society and those whose actions have attracted public criticism.
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Mr Edgar emphasised the publication’s unwavering dedication to editorial independence and historical accuracy.
“The list shows the good, the bad, and the ugly,” Mr Edgar stated.
He added that all 100 honourees are presented through in-depth biographical essays, each paired with custom-designed caricatures, offering a coffee table book that is as visually striking as it is intellectually engaging, merging art, history, and reflections on leadership.
Mr Edgar stressed that the publication is intended to become a key resource for scholars, policymakers, corporate executives, and historians seeking insight into the workings of power and influence in Nigeria.
