Two trailblazing Nigerian women, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have earned spots on Forbes’ prestigious 2025 list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing influence in global leadership, trade, and media.
The annual ranking, released on Wednesday, celebrates women whose power shapes business, politics, culture, and global affairs. Now in its 22nd year, the list is compiled using four core metrics: money, media presence, impact, and spheres of influence.
Forbes assessed political leaders based on the size of their countries’ populations and gross domestic products, while corporate executives were ranked using company revenues, valuations, and workforce size. Media visibility was evaluated across all categories.
Global Trade Leadership: Okonjo-Iweala Ranked 92nd
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd, currently serves as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, making history as the first woman and first African to lead the institution. She assumed office in March 2021.
Forbes described her as a seasoned economist and international development expert with over three decades of experience across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Okonjo-Iweala previously served two terms as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015, and briefly held the position of Foreign Minister in 2006. She also chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has helped immunise more than 760 million children worldwide.
A Harvard University graduate with a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the 71-year-old mother of four is widely recognised for championing trade as a tool for reducing poverty and advancing sustainable development in emerging economies.
Media Powerhouse: Mo Abudu Ranked 98th
Media entrepreneur and philanthropist Mo Abudu placed 98th on the list. She is the founder of EbonyLife Media, a pan-African entertainment company reshaping global perceptions of African storytelling.
Abudu launched EbonyLife TV in 2006, and the channel now broadcasts in over 49 countries, including the United Kingdom and across the Caribbean. Forbes highlighted her role in securing landmark partnerships with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix, making EbonyLife the first African media company to sign a multi-title film and television deal with the streaming giant.
A Global Lineup of Influential Women
The 2025 list is topped by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, followed by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. Other political leaders featured include Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Namibia’s Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The ranking also underscores women’s expanding influence in technology and artificial intelligence, with leaders from AMD, Alphabet, Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI making the list.
In entertainment, Kim Kardashian debuted on the ranking after raising $225 million for Skims at a $5 billion valuation and launching NikeSKIMS in partnership with Nike. Forbes also recognised the women behind Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, cited for commanding a massive global fan base.
Together, the inclusion of Okonjo-Iweala and Abudu highlights Nigeria’s rising footprint on the world stage, spanning global trade governance and international media.
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