Two prominent Nigerians — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu — have been listed among Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women for 2025, underscoring their influence in global trade, governance and media.
Gatekeepers News reports that the annual list, released on Wednesday, spotlights women shaping international policy, business, technology and culture.
Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd, is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the first woman and first African to lead the body since March 2021. Forbes highlights her more than three decades of work in economic development across multiple continents, as well as her tenure as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (served twice) and as Foreign Affairs Minister.
She previously chaired the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has helped immunise over 760 million children globally. In 2010, she supervised the World Bank’s fundraising effort that generated $49.3 billion in grants and low-interest loans for the world’s poorest nations.
Her global leadership record led WTO member states to overwhelmingly reappoint her for a second term in late 2024 — a vote of confidence in her commitment to using trade as a tool for lifting developing countries out of poverty.
Ranked 98th, Mo Abudu — media entrepreneur, filmmaker and philanthropist — was recognised for reshaping African storytelling on the global stage. Abudu founded EbonyLife Media, which began broadcasting in 2006 and now reaches audiences in more than 49 countries. She has since forged major partnerships with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks and Netflix — the latter resulting in the first African multi-title deal on the platform.
In 2025, EbonyLife grew its digital reach with the launch of EbonyLife ON Plus, a streaming service available on major app stores. Abudu was also named among TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” for her groundbreaking work in elevating African stories and supporting emerging creatives across the continent and diaspora.
Forbes notes that the 2025 ranking reflects the rising influence of women in politics, technology, economics and entertainment. Other African figures featured 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.
The recognition comes amid broader global concerns about declining employment opportunities for women, including in the United States — a trend that underscores the importance of female leadership in driving innovation, economic growth and cultural representation.
For Nigeria, the inclusion of Okonjo-Iweala and Abudu highlights the nation’s expanding global presence in trade governance, economic policy and creative industries.
