Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Abudu Make Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women List

Two prominent Nigerians, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been listed in Forbes’ 2025 ranking of the world’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

The list, released on Wednesday, celebrates influential female figures shaping global policy, business, culture, media, and technology.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and Abudu, a media mogul and Founder of EbonyLife Group, were placed among global powerhouses such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (No. 1), European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde (No. 2), and Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi (No. 3).

Also featured are the leaders of Mexico and Namibia, Claudia Sheinbaum (No. 5) and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (No. 79), respectively.

Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd, currently serves as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, where she is both the first woman and first African to occupy the top role since her appointment in March 2021.

Forbes describes her as a seasoned economist and development expert with more than three decades of global experience across multiple continents.

The former two-time Nigerian Finance Minister, who also briefly served as Foreign Minister, has driven major reforms and previously chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has helped immunise hundreds of millions of children worldwide.

A Harvard and MIT alumna, the 71-year-old mother of four continues to champion trade as a tool for lifting developing nations out of poverty and advancing sustainable development.

Mo Abudu, placed at No. 98, is celebrated for her influence in global media. The founder of EbonyLife Media has built one of Africa’s most recognisable entertainment brands, with EbonyLife TV now airing in more than 49 countries.

Her company has secured high-profile partnerships with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix, becoming the first African media company to sign a multi-title agreement with the streaming giant.

In November 2025, EbonyLife expanded its digital footprint by launching EbonyLife ON Plus on major app stores. Forbes hails Abudu as one of the most influential women in international media, highlighting her role in amplifying African stories to global audiences.

The 2025 list also reflects women’s rising influence in technology and AI, spotlighting leaders such as AMD CEO Lisa Su (No. 10), Alphabet finance chief Ruth Porat (No. 12), Nvidia’s Colette Kress (No. 37), Meta’s Susan Li (No. 41), and Microsoft’s Amy Hood (No. 16). Other notable entries include Anthropic’s co-founder Daniela Amodei (No. 73) and Sarah Friar (No. 50), CFO of OpenAI.

In entertainment, Kim Kardashian (No. 71) earned her spot following major fundraising for her Skims brand and the launch of NikeSKIMS. Rounding out the list are the stars of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters (No. 100), recognised for commanding a massive global audience.