Two Nigerian women, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and media mogul, Mo Abudu, have been named among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World for 2025.
The annual list, published on Wednesday by Forbes, celebrates women shaping global business, politics, culture, and technology.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was ranked 92nd on the list. She made history as the first African and first woman to head the WTO, assuming office in March 2021.
Described by Forbes as “an economist and international development professional,” Okonjo-Iweala has more than 30 years of experience across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
She previously served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003–2006, 2011–2015) and briefly as Foreign Minister in 2006. She also chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has immunised over 760 million children worldwide.
A graduate of Harvard University with a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the 71-year-old is widely known for advocating trade as a pathway to lifting developing countries out of poverty.
Media entrepreneur and founder of EbonyLife Media, Mo Abudu, came in at number 98. Forbes described her as “one of the most influential women in global media.”
Abudu launched EbonyLife TV in 2006, which now broadcasts in over 49 countries, including the UK and the Caribbean. Under her leadership, EbonyLife has inked groundbreaking content deals 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, the company unveiled EbonyLife ON Plus, a new digital platform available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
Born in London, Abudu spent her early years with her grandmother in Nigeria before returning to the UK.
Topping the 2025 Forbes list is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, followed by European Central Bank’s Christine Lagarde (No. 2), Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (No. 3), and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum (No. 5).
Other notable names include AMD CEO Lisa Su (No. 10), Alphabet’s Ruth Porat (No. 12), Microsoft’s Amy Hood (No. 16), and Meta CFO Susan Li (No. 41). Daniela Amodei (No. 73), co-founder of AI firm Anthropic, and Kim Kardashian (No. 71) also featured.
Forbes also celebrated the women of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters (No. 100), whose global fan base reflects the growing power of women in entertainment and digital culture.
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