Two distinguished Nigerian women — Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu — have been named among Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women for 2025, underscoring their global influence in trade, media, and leadership.
The annual list, released on Wednesday, highlights women shaping the world through business, politics, philanthropy, technology, and culture. They appear alongside leading global figures such as Ursula von der Leyen (No. 1), Christine Lagarde (No. 2), Japan’s first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi (No. 3), and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum (No. 5).
Okonjo-Iweala Ranked 92nd
Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, appears at No. 92 on the list.
Forbes praised her as “an economist and international development professional” with more than 30 years of experience spanning multiple continents.
She made history in 2021, becoming both the first woman and first African to lead the WTO.
A former two-time Nigerian Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala has also chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has provided life-saving immunisation to over 760 million children globally.
The 71-year-old Harvard and MIT-trained economist is celebrated for championing the role of trade in driving economic growth and reducing poverty in developing countries.
Mo Abudu Ranked 98th
Nigerian media mogul and philanthropist Mo Abudu is listed at No. 98, reinforcing her reputation as one of the most influential voices in global entertainment.
Abudu, founder of EbonyLife Media, has expanded African storytelling to global audiences.
Her platform, EbonyLife TV—launched in 2006—now broadcasts in more than 49 countries, including in Europe and the Caribbean.
Forbes highlighted her groundbreaking partnership deals with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix, making EbonyLife the first African media company to sign a multi-title agreement with the streaming giant.
In November 2025, she unveiled EbonyLife ON Plus, a new digital platform available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Tech Leaders Dominate 2025 Rankings
This year’s list shows a noticeable shift toward women in technology and artificial intelligence, including:
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Lisa Su, CEO of AMD (No. 10)
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Ruth Porat, President & CIO, Alphabet (No. 12)
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Colette Kress, Nvidia CFO (No. 37)
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Susan Li, Meta CFO (No. 41)
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Amy Hood, former Microsoft CFO (No. 16)
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Daniela Amodei, Anthropic co-founder (No. 73), now a self-made billionaire as the company hit a $183 billion valuation
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Sarah Friar, OpenAI CFO (No. 50)
Entertainment also made its mark, with Kim Kardashian (No. 71) earning recognition for Skims’ $5 billion valuation and her new partnership line, NikeSKIMS.
Forbes also honoured the global sensation KPop Demon Hunters ensemble (No. 100) for their massive worldwide fan base.
