Forbes 2025: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Abudu Named Among World’s 100 Most Powerful Women

Two prominent Nigerian women, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have again been ranked among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World for 2025.

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the founder of EbonyLife Media appear on the list alongside global leaders such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (who takes the No. 1 spot), European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Japan’s first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi, and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

For the first time, Kim Kardashian—co-founder of Skims and reality TV personality—also appears on the list. With around 350 million social media followers and a high-profile partnership with Nike on “NikeSkim”, her shapewear brand has reportedly reached a valuation of about $5 billion in 2025.

Global pop icon Taylor Swift is also featured. She became a billionaire in October 2023 and is noted by Forbes as the first musician to achieve billionaire status purely on the strength of her music and performances.

Forbes published the 22nd annual ranking of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women on Wednesday, 10 December, highlighting women shaping business, politics, culture, technology and global leadership in 2025. Collectively, the women on the list oversee more than $4.9 trillion in revenue, employ over 9.3 million people, and influence countries that together represent more than half of global GDP.

Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President of Forbes, said this year’s honourees stand out for their resilience and influence in turbulent times, noting that they “steer platforms, policies and capital that are redefining the world’s most important industries and economies.”