Two prominent Nigerian women — Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and media powerhouse Mo Abudu — have been named among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World for 2025, reaffirming Nigeria’s growing influence on the global stage.
The annual list, released on Wednesday, celebrates women driving major change in politics, business, technology, international development, and entertainment.
Okonjo-Iweala Ranked 92nd
World Trade Organisation Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, secured the 92nd spot. Forbes highlighted her as an “economist and international development professional” whose impact spans more than three decades across multiple continents.
Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African ever to lead the WTO, took office in March 2021. Before her global role, she served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003–2006, 2011–2015) and briefly as Foreign Minister in 2006 — the first woman to hold that position.
Her international résumé includes chairing the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has provided vaccines to over 760 million children worldwide.
A Harvard graduate with a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the 71-year-old is globally respected for championing trade-led development for emerging economies.
Mo Abudu Listed at No. 98
Media entrepreneur Mo Abudu, founder of EbonyLife Media, also earned a place on the prestigious list — ranking 98th.
Forbes referred to her as “one of the most influential women in global media.”
Abudu launched EbonyLife TV in 2006, creating one of Africa’s most recognized entertainment brands, now broadcasting in more than 49 countries, including the UK and the Caribbean.
Under her leadership, EbonyLife has secured groundbreaking partnerships with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix — becoming the first African studio to sign a multi-title agreement with the streaming giant.
In November 2025, Abudu expanded her media empire with EbonyLife ON Plus, a digital platform now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
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Born in London and raised partly in Nigeria, Abudu’s career has become a blueprint for African women in global entertainment.
Who Tops the 2025 List?
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen leads the 2025 ranking, followed by:
* Christine Lagarde — President, European Central Bank (No. 2)
* Sanae Takaichi — Japan’s first female Prime Minister (No. 3)
* Claudia Sheinbaum — President of Mexico (No. 5)
The list also features other notable figures, including:
* Lisa Su — AMD CEO (No. 10)
* Ruth Porat — Alphabet CFO (No. 12)
* Amy Hood — Microsoft CFO (No. 16)
* Susan Li — Meta CFO (No. 41)
* Kim Kardashian — Entrepreneur and media personality (No. 71)
* Daniela Amodei — Co-founder of Anthropic (No. 73)
Closing the list at No. 100 is the cast of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, spotlighted for their cultural and global digital influence.
