Two Nigerians, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been named among Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women for 2025.
The annual ranking, released on Wednesday, Dec. 10, profiles women shaping policy, business and culture internationally.
Okonjo-Iweala, positioned at 92, is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the first African and first woman to hold the office since March 2021.
Forbes highlights her over 30 years of experience in economic development across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. She previously served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and briefly as Foreign Affairs Minister, and chaired the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has immunised more than 760 million children globally.
In 2010, she oversaw the World Bank’s successful fundraising campaign, which resulted in $49.3 billion in grants and low-interest loans for the world’s poorest countries. Following her ministerial stint, she remained active worldwide, heading organisations such as Gavi and the Vaccine Alliance (2016-2020), co-chairing the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, and participating in pandemic and climate-related international activities.
Her leadership has earned her a second term as WTO Director-General: she was overwhelmingly reappointed by member states in late 2024, demonstrating widespread trust in her leadership.
Mo Abudu, ranked 98th, is a media executive and philanthropist, founder of EbonyLife Media.
Forbes notes that the 2025 list emphasises the growing role of women in technology, politics and entertainment.
African figures, including Mary Vilakazi, CEO of South Africa’s FirstRand Group; Judith Suminwa Tuluka, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s first female Prime Minister; Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah; and Mpumi Madisa, CEO of Bidvest, also feature prominently.
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