Every year, the Forbes list of the World’s Most Powerful Women draws attention to the individuals shaping decisions in business, politics, technology, media, and global governance. This year’s edition features two Nigerians whose influence continues to travel far beyond national borders: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu. 

Their placement on the 2025 list is not only a personal achievement. It reinforces how Nigerian women remain part of global conversations in trade diplomacy and cultural leadership.

The list, released on Wednesday, brings together figures who control major institutions or drive global shifts. Names such as Ursula von der Leyen, Christine Lagarde, Sanae Takaichi, and Claudia Sheinbaum sit at the top. Their roles reflect the political, economic, and security realities shaping today’s world. Within this landscape, the appearance of Okonjo-Iweala and Abudu signals how far African expertise has moved into mainstream centres of decision-making.

Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92, continues to command respect in international economic policy. As Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, she oversees an institution that manages the rules of global commerce. She remains the first woman and first African to hold the position.

Her professional journey moves from two stints as Nigeria’s Finance Minister to global health leadership at Gavi and long-standing work across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At the WTO, her push for fairer trade systems and stronger participation for developing economies keeps her at the centre of global negotiations.

Abudu, placed at 98, represents a different form of power. She has steadily built EbonyLife Media into one of Africa’s most recognised content companies. Her partnerships with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, and Netflix pushed Nollywood into international view and opened doors for African creators seeking global scale. 

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The launch of EbonyLife ON Plus last year expanded her digital presence and signalled a broader shift toward a unified African streaming ecosystem. Her work shows how cultural production, when backed by structure and ambition, can influence how a continent is seen.

The wider 2025 list highlights women redefining power across technology and artificial intelligence. Leaders such as Lisa Su of AMD, Ruth Porat of Alphabet, Colette Kress of Nvidia, Amy Hood of Microsoft, and Daniela Amodei of Anthropic reflect the industries shaping the next phase of global competition. Their inclusion illustrates how influence now sits at the intersection of economics, innovation, and digital infrastructure.

For Nigeria, Forbes’ recognition of Okonjo-Iweala and Abudu arrives at a moment when the country is struggling to stabilise its economy and rebuild public confidence. Their presence on the list offers a contrast to domestic challenges, but it also underscores something more grounded: when Nigerians gain access to the right platforms, they do not merely participate. They lead.

Their journeys are built on long careers, institutional experience, and an ability to operate in demanding global environments. Their inclusion on the world’s most-watched power ranking is not symbolic. It is a reflection of their ongoing work and the scale of their impact.

Forbes will release another list next year, but the influence of these two Nigerians is not tied to any ranking. Their work is already shaping conversations in the places where global decisions are made. What the list really does is catch up to a reality the world has been navigating for a while. Nigerian talent has become part of the international flow, steady and unmistakable.

Meiza Nigeria