Two Nigerians, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been listed among Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women for 2025.
The annual ranking, released on Wednesday, December 10, spotlights women who are shaping global policy, business, and culture.
Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd, currently serves as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). She is both the first African and the first woman to lead the organisation since taking office in March 2021. Forbes highlights her more than three decades of experience in economic development across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America. She previously served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, briefly as Foreign Affairs Minister, and chaired the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has helped immunise over 760 million children worldwide.
In 2010, she led the World Bank’s landmark fundraising effort that secured $49.3 billion in grants and low-interest loans for the world’s poorest countries. After her ministerial roles, she continued her global influence, heading organisations such as Gavi (2016–2020), co-chairing the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, and contributing to several international climate and pandemic-focused initiatives. Her leadership earned her a second term as WTO Director-General, with member states overwhelmingly reappointing her in late 2024.
Mo Abudu, placed 98th on the list, is recognised for her impact as a media entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the founder of EbonyLife Media, a powerhouse shaping African storytelling across film, television, and global streaming platforms.
Forbes notes that the 2025 list reflects the rising influence of women across technology, politics, and entertainment. Other prominent African honourees include Mary Vilakazi, CEO of South Africa’s FirstRand Group; Judith Suminwa Tuluka, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s first female Prime Minister; Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah; and Mpumi Madisa, CEO of Bidvest.
