11th December, 2025.
Nigeria has secured notable global recognition with two of its distinguished daughters, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, featured on Forbes’ prestigious 100 World’s Most Powerful Women list for 2025.
The announcement, made on Forbes’ official website this Wednesday, celebrates women who wield substantial influence across business, politics, culture, and international leadership. The Nigerian duo’s inclusion underscores their remarkable contributions to global trade and the entertainment industry respectively.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, currently serving as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, secured the 92nd position. The 71-year-old economist made history in March 2021 as both the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. Her distinguished career includes dual tenures as Nigeria’s Finance Minister between 2003 and 2006, and again from 2011 to 2015. She also briefly held the position of Foreign Minister in 2006.
A Harvard University graduate with a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Okonjo-Iweala previously chaired Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, overseeing immunisation efforts that reached over 760 million children worldwide. Forbes acknowledged her unwavering commitment to leveraging trade as a catalyst for economic development in emerging nations.
Media entrepreneur and philanthropist Mo Abudu claimed the 98th spot on the influential list. The founder of EbonyLife Media has transformed African storytelling since establishing EbonyLife TV in 2006. Her network currently broadcasts across 49 countries, spanning the UK and the Caribbean.
Forbes highlighted Abudu’s instrumental role in securing groundbreaking partnerships with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix, making EbonyLife the first African media company to negotiate a multi-title agreement with the streaming giant. In November 2025, the company unveiled EbonyLife ON Plus, a digital platform accessible via Google Play and the Apple App Store.
London-born Abudu, who spent formative years with her grandmother in Nigeria, has earned recognition from Forbes as one of the most influential figures in global media.
The 2025 list features prominent world leaders including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (ranked first), European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde (second), Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (third), Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (fifth), and Namibian Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (79th).
This year’s rankings particularly highlight women’s growing dominance in technology and artificial intelligence sectors. Notable tech industry leaders include AMD CEO Lisa Su (10th), Alphabet’s President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat (12th), and Microsoft’s Amy Hood (16th). Anthropic co-founder and President Daniela Amodei (73rd) achieved self-made billionaire status following her company’s $183 billion valuation.
The entertainment category witnessed fresh faces, with Kim Kardashian (71st) earning her spot after Skims raised $225 million at a $5 billion valuation and launched NikeSKIMS in partnership with Nike. Forbes also acknowledged the women behind Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters (100th), whose global appeal transcends demographic boundaries.