President-elect, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd), who was named in the Time Magazine annual 100 influential people in the world list, did not attend the Gala held at Lincoln Center in New York. The gala is put together to celebrate the 100 influential people in the world.

The TIME 100 is an annual list of 100 most influential people in the world whose works are changing the world, regardless of the consequences of their actions.

Buhari made history in March by becoming the first candidate to oust a sitting Nigerian President through the ballot box and was described as 'A new choice for Nigeria' by TIME.

Former Minister of Education and Bring Back Our Girls campaigner, Obiageli Ezekwesili attended the gala and called on President Barrack Obama of the United States of America to help find the girls abducted by Islamist group Boko Haram.