Forbes announced its 100 most powerful women list on Thursday, with six Africans — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, Mpumi Madisa, Mo Abudu, and Mia Mottley making the list.
Who are These Amazing Women?
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is the first woman and first African to head the WTO, in her role, she has pushed for pragmatic reforms aimed at improving supply-chain resilience, digital trade integration, and equitable market access for developing countries.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala previously served at the World Bank and had two tenures as Nigeria’s Finance Minister. She has become a central voice for sustainable development, vaccine equity, and climate-aligned commerce, positioning global trade as both an economic and social stabilizer. The 2025 recognition earns her a spot on the Forbes list for the eighth time.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
The current president of the Republic of Namibia is a liberation activist turned stateswoman, she is the first woman to lead the country. Her national agenda emphasizes economic diversification, governance reforms, and youth inclusion. As a long-standing senior figure in SWAPO, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership bridges Namibia’s liberation legacy with the demands of a rapidly evolving regional landscape.
Judith Suminwa Tuluka
The first female Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, brings technocratic expertise to the heart of government. Her background in development planning and institutional reforms has helped in stabilizing public finances, spearheading infrastructure development, strengthening governance, and advancing peacebuilding in conflict-affected regions.
Mpumi Madisa
She is the first female CEO of the Bidvest Group, a leading South African services, trading, and distribution company. As the first woman to lead the conglomerate in its history, Madisa has driven strategic transformation within one of Africa’s largest services, trading, and distribution companies
Mo Abudu
The CEO of EbonyLife Group, is pioneering Africa’s media and entertainment renaissance. She has built a multi-platform empire that has propelled Nigerian storytelling onto global screens, forging partnerships with international studios and streaming platforms.
She has greatly contributed to the global expansion of Nollywood and strengthened Africa’s presence in the worldwide content economy.
Mia Amor Mottley
The Prime Minister of Barbados is one of the world’s most compelling advocates for climate justice and development finance reform. Her leadership on the Bridgetown Initiative has reframed the discourse on climate vulnerability, debt restructuring, and equitable access to capital for small island states.
She is responsible for guiding Barbados’ transition to a republic and leads with a blend of progressive economic thinking with vocal public advocacy.
