Two Nigerian women, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been recognized in Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women list for 2025. This list honors women with significant influence across business, politics, culture, and global leadership, highlighting the growing impact of Nigerian women on the global stage.
Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd, is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the first woman as well as the first African to hold this position since she assumed office in March 2021. Forbes describes her as an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience across various continents. She has previously served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister during two terms and briefly acted as Foreign Minister. Known for her belief in trade’s power to alleviate poverty in developing nations, Okonjo-Iweala has also chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has immunized more than 760 million children globally.
Mo Abudu, ranked 98th, is a prominent media entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of EbonyLife Media. She launched EbonyLife TV in 2006, which now broadcasts in over 49 countries, including the UK and the Caribbean. Forbes noted her pivotal role in securing major partnership deals with prominent companies like Sony Pictures and Netflix, marking EbonyLife as the first African media company to sign a multi-title film and TV agreement with the latter. In November 2025, her company introduced a new digital platform, EbonyLife ON Plus.
The 2025 list also reflects the increasing influence of women in technology and artificial intelligence, featuring leaders like Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, and Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer at Alphabet. Other notable figures include entertainment personalities and influential women from various sectors, highlighting the diverse contributions women are making globally.
