Table of Contents
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu Named Among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women of 2025
Nigerian Women Reaffirm Global Influence
Nigeria once again secured a place on the global power map as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu earned spots on Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World for 2025. Their inclusion underscores the growing impact of African women across international governance, media, and business.
Okonjo-Iweala, who serves as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Abudu, founder of EbonyLife Media, appear alongside some of the most influential figures shaping global policy, finance, and culture.
A List Led by Global Decision-Makers
Topping the 2025 ranking is Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, followed by other high-profile leaders including Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia.
The list reflects a broad spectrum of leadership, spanning politics, economics, technology, entertainment, and cultural influence.
New Faces and Cultural Powerhouses
One of the most notable first-time entrants this year is Kim Kardashian. The reality TV star and entrepreneur earned her place through the rapid rise of her shapewear brand, Skims, which reached an estimated valuation of $5 billion in 2025.
With a combined social media following of roughly 350 million and a headline-making collaboration with Nike on NikeSkim, Kardashian’s influence now extends well beyond entertainment into global commerce.
Taylor Swift’s Billionaire Milestone
Global pop star Taylor Swift also features prominently on the list. Forbes notes that Swift became a billionaire in October 2023, making history as the first musician to reach billionaire status based solely on music sales, touring, and performances—without relying on external business ventures.
Her inclusion highlights the growing economic power of cultural figures whose influence rivals that of traditional corporate leaders.
The Scale of Power in 2025
Forbes released its 22nd annual ranking of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women on Wednesday, December 10. The publication emphasized the extraordinary scale of influence held by the women featured on the list.
Collectively, the honourees oversee more than $4.9 trillion in annual revenue, employ over 9.3 million people, and wield influence across nations representing more than half of global GDP.
Leadership in Uncertain Times
Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President of Forbes, described the 2025 honourees as leaders defined by resilience and adaptability. According to her, they are women who “steer platforms, policies, and capital” at a time of global uncertainty, reshaping industries and economies in lasting ways.
For Nigeria, the continued recognition of Okonjo-Iweala and Abudu signals not just individual success, but a broader narrative of African women influencing the world at the highest levels.
