Two prominent Nigerians, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have earned spots on Forbes’ 2025 ranking of the 100 World’s Most Powerful Women, highlighting their growing global influence in trade, governance, and media.
The annual list, published on Wednesday via Forbes’ website, recognises women shaping decisions in business, politics, culture, and international leadership. Okonjo-Iweala and Abudu appear alongside notable figures including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (No. 1), European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde (No. 2), Japan’s first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi (No. 3), Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum (No. 5), and Namibia’s Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (No. 79).
Okonjo-Iweala, ranked No. 92, currently leads the World Trade Organization, becoming the first woman and first African to hold the position since her appointment in March 2021. Forbes describes her as “an economist and international development professional” with “more than 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.”
Before joining the WTO, she served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003–2006 and 2011–2015) and briefly as Foreign Affairs Minister in 2006. She also chaired the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has “immunised more than 760 million children globally.” A Harvard University graduate with a PhD from MIT, the 71-year-old mother of four is celebrated for promoting trade as a tool for lifting developing nations out of poverty and driving inclusive growth.
Abudu, listed at No. 98, is a media executive, philanthropist, and founder of EbonyLife Media. She launched EbonyLife TV in 2006, which now broadcasts across more than 49 countries, including the UK and the Caribbean. Forbes credits her with securing strategic partnerships with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix, making EbonyLife the first African studio to sign a multi-title film and TV deal with the streaming giant.
In November 2025, EbonyLife expanded its digital presence with the launch of its streaming app, EbonyLife ON Plus, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Born in London, Abudu spent part of her childhood in Nigeria with her grandmother before returning to the UK. Forbes describes her as “one of the most influential women in global media.”
The 2025 ranking also highlights the growing presence of women in technology and artificial intelligence, featuring leaders such as AMD CEO Lisa Su (No. 10), Alphabet President and CIO Ruth Porat (No. 12), Nvidia’s Colette Kress (No. 37), Meta CFO Susan Li (No. 41), and Microsoft’s Amy Hood (No. 16).
Other notable names include Daniela Amodei (No. 73), co-founder and president of Anthropic, who recently became a self-made billionaire after the company reached a $183 billion valuation, and OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar (No. 50).
In entertainment, reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian (No. 71) earned recognition after raising $225 million for Skims at a $5 billion valuation and launching NikeSKIMS in partnership with Nike. Forbes also spotlighted the women behind Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters (No. 100), who continue to attract a global following across generations.