Forbes Lists Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Abudu Among 2025’s World’s Most Powerful Women
Two prominent Nigerian figures, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been recognised on Forbes magazine’s 2025 ranking of the 100 World’s Most Powerful Women, underscoring their growing influence on the global stage.
The annual list, published on Forbes.com, honours women whose leadership and achievements are shaping global business, politics, culture and international affairs. Okonjo-Iweala and Abudu feature alongside some of the world’s most influential women, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.
Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd on the list, currently serves as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a role she has held since 2021. Forbes describes her as “an economist and international development professional” with more than three decades of experience across multiple continents. Before leading the WTO, she twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and also held the position of Foreign Affairs Minister. Additionally, she chaired Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has helped immunise hundreds of millions of children worldwide. A graduate of Harvard University with a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Okonjo-Iweala is celebrated for promoting trade as a key driver of sustainable economic growth.
Mo Abudu, placed at No. 98, is the founder of EbonyLife Media and a well-known media executive and philanthropist. She launched EbonyLife TV in 2006, and the network now broadcasts in over 49 countries, including markets in the UK and the Caribbean. Forbes credits Abudu with securing strategic partnerships with major international companies such as Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks and Netflix, making EbonyLife the first African media company to sign a multi-title deal with the global streaming giant. In 2025, her company also expanded its digital presence with the launch of EbonyLife ON Plus, a streaming app available on major platforms. Born in London and partly raised in Nigeria, Abudu is widely recognised for amplifying African stories and talent on the global media landscape.
The 2025 Forbes list reflects the rising prominence of women across industries, especially in technology and artificial intelligence, with leaders from major firms such as AMD, Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft also featured.