Two Nigerians, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and media powerhouse Mo Abudu, have been named among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women for 2025, a ranking that spotlights influential figures driving progress in politics, business, leadership, technology, and culture.
The list, released on Wednesday via Forbes’ website, reaffirms the expanding global presence of both women, whose work continues to shape international trade and modern media.
They feature alongside some of the world’s most influential leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (No. 1), European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde (No. 2), Japan’s first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi (No. 3), Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum (No. 5), and Namibia’s Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (No. 79).
Ranked No. 92, Okonjo-Iweala serves as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. She made history in March 2021 as the first woman and the first African to lead the institution. Forbes describes her as “an economist and international development professional” with “more than 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.”
Her previous leadership roles include two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and a brief stint as Foreign Affairs Minister. She also chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has “immunised more than 760 million children globally.” A graduate of Harvard University and MIT, the 71-year-old is widely known for championing trade as a pathway to reducing poverty and advancing sustainable development.
Mo Abudu, appearing at No. 98, is recognised for her impact on media, content production, and storytelling. As founder of EbonyLife Media, she has built a globally recognised African entertainment brand. EbonyLife TV, which she launched in 2006, now broadcasts in over 49 countries—including the UK and the Caribbean.
According to Forbes, Abudu helped the company secure high-profile collaborations with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix—making EbonyLife the first African media house to sign a multi-title film and TV deal with the streaming platform. In November 2025, EbonyLife expanded its digital offerings with the launch of EbonyLife ON Plus across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Forbes describes her as “one of the most influential women in global media.”
The 2025 ranking also highlights women leading advancements in AI and technology. They include AMD CEO Lisa Su (No. 10), Alphabet President and CIO Ruth Porat (No. 12), Nvidia’s Colette Kress (No. 37), Meta’s CFO Susan Li (No. 41), and Microsoft’s longtime finance chief Amy Hood (No. 16).
Others on the list include Anthropic co-founder Daniela Amodei (No. 73), who became a self-made billionaire as her company’s valuation soared to $183 billion, and OpenAI’s CFO Sarah Friar (No. 50).
In entertainment, Kim Kardashian makes her debut at No. 71 following a $225 million raise for her brand Skims and its new collaboration, NikeSKIMS. Forbes also spotlights the stars of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters (No. 100), credited with commanding a worldwide fan base that cuts across demographics.
