Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala Named Africa’s Most Powerful Woman

Nigeria’s former Finance Minister and current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named by Forbes as Africa’s most powerful woman.

Inside Forbes’ 20th annual ranking released on Tuesday, Okonjo-Iweala is positioned at 87th place in the Most Powerful Women in the World list, surpassing Mpumi Madisa, a South African businesswoman at 88th.

The list includes 100 women who have performed excellently well in various fields, such as business, media, politics, entertainment, and technology.

Tanzanian President, Samia Hassan also joined the list at the 93rd spot and Nigerian media mogul and philanthropist, Mo Abudu at 98th.

Topping the chart is Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission for Impactful Policy and Budget, while Christine Lagarde, European Central Bank President, secures the second spot, with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris following closely in third place.

Christine Lagarde holds the second position as the European Central Bank President, while U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris came in third place.

Okonjo-Iweala, who shattered barriers in 2021 as the first woman and the first African Director-General of the WTO, is celebrated for her remarkable career at the World Bank and impactful economic reforms in Nigeria.

Her recognition on Forbes’ list underscores not only her significant contributions to global trade but also her commitment to economic development, governance, and international leadership.

The Forbes list of the world’s most powerful women for 2023 was released on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

Okonjo-Iweala, who has worked for the World Bank, Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, and the World Trade Organisation, has been vocal about how economies can become more inclusive when women’s unique experiences are considered in economic planning.

The magazine hails Abudu as a “media mogul and philanthropist.” With a slate of films that include Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman, and The Wedding Party, she has changed the game in Nollywood as the founder of Ebony Life Media.

Currently, Abudu and Okonjo-Iweala are producing the documentary series Black, Brilliant and Bold for Netflix.

Music star, Taylor Swift also made the list, coming in fifth place and being the first woman on the list outside of politics and governance.

Singers, Beyonce and Rihanna also made the list.

See full list here by Name, Age, Location, Category:

1. Ursula von der Leyen, 65, Belgium, Politics & Policy
2. Christine Lagarde, 67, Germany, Politics & Policy
3. Kamala Harris, 59, United States, Politics & Policy
4. Giorgia Meloni, 46, Italy, Politics & Policy
5. Taylor Swift, 33, United States, Media & Entertainment
6. Karen Lynch, 59, United States, Business
7. Jane Fraser, 56, United States, Finance
8. Abigail Johnson, 61, United States, Finance
9. Mary Barra, 61, United States, Business
10. Melinda French Gates, 59, United States, Philanthropy
11. Julie Sweet, 56, United States, Business
12. Kristalina Georgieva, 70, United States, Politics & Policy
13. MacKenzie Scott, 53, United States, Philanthropy
14. Gail Boudreaux, 63, United States, Business
15. Emma Walmsley, 54, United Kingdom, Business
16. Ruth Porat, 66, United States, Technology
17. Safra Catz, 62, United States, Technology
18. Ana Patricia Botín, 63, Spain, Finance
19. Carol Tomé, 66, United States, Business
20. Sandy Ran Xu, 46, China, Business
21. Kathryn McLay, 49, United States, Business
22. Sarah London, 43, United States, Business
23. Amy Hood, 51, United States, Technology
24. Tarciana Paula Gomes Medeiros, 45, Brazil, Finance
25. Laurene Powell Jobs & family, 60, United States, Philanthropy
26. Catherine MacGregor, 51, France, Business
27. Janet Yellen, 77, United States, Politics & Policy
28. Gwynne Shotwell, 60, United States, Technology
29. Phebe Novakovic, 66, United States, Business
30. Tsai Ing-wen, 67, Taiwan, Politics & Policy
31. Oprah Winfrey, 69, United States, Media & Entertainment
32. Nirmala Sitharaman, 64, India, Politics & Policy
33. Ho Ching, 70, Singapore, Finance
34. Thasunda Brown Duckett, 50, United States, Finance
35. Marianne Lake, Jennifer Piepszak, United States, Finance
36. Beyoncé Knowles, 42, United States, Media & Entertainment
37. Shari Redstone, 69, United States, Media & Entertainment
38. Kathy Warden, 52, United States, Business
39. Dana Walden, 59, United States, Media & Entertainment
40. Amanda Blanc, 56, United Kingdom, Business
41. Susan Li, 38, United States, Technology
42. Margherita Della Valle, 58, United Kingdom, Business
43. Adena Friedman, 54, United States, Finance
44. Mary Callahan Erdoes, 56, United States, Finance
45. Lynn Martin, 47, United States, Finance
46. Sheikh Hasina Wajed, 76, Bangladesh, Politics & Policy
47. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, 61, Indonesia, Politics & Policy
48. Gina Rinehart, 69, Australia, Business
49. Lisa Su, 54, United States, Technology
50. Vicki Hollub, 64, United States, Business
51. Nicke Widyawati, 55, Indonesia, Business
52. Shemara Wikramanayake, 61, Australia, Finance
53. Tricia Griffith, 59, United States, Business
54. Jessica Tan, 46, China, Business
55. Judy Faulkner, 80, United States, Technology
56. Tokiko Shimizu, 58, Japan, Finance
57. Donna Langley, 55, United States, Media & Entertainment
58. Jennifer Salke, 59, United States, Media & Entertainment
59. Wang Laichun, 56, China, Technology
60. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, 42, India, Technology
61. Jenny Johnson, 59, United States, Finance
62. Yuriko Koike, 71, Japan, Politics & Policy
63. Hana Al Rostamani, United Arab Emirates, Finance
64. Suzanne Scott, 57, United States, Media & Entertainment
65. Lynn Good, 64, United States, Business
66. Sinead Gorman, 46, United Kingdom, Business
67. Bela Bajaria, 52, United States, Media & Entertainment
68. Belén Garijo, 63, Germany, Business
69. Melanie Kreis, 52, Germany, Business
70. Soma Mondal, 60, India, Business
71. Paula Santilli, Mexico, Business
72. Mette Frederiksen, 46, Denmark, Politics & Policy
73. Joey Wat, 52, China, Business
74. Rihanna, 35, United States, Media & Entertainment
75. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, 71, United States, Politics & Policy
76. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, 70, India, Business
77. Güler Sabanci, 68, Turkey, Business
78. Trudy Shan Dai, 47, China, Business
79. Debra Crew, 52, United Kingdom, Business
80. Robyn Denholm, 60, Australia, Business
81. Solina Chau, 61, Hong Kong, Philanthropy
82. Lee Boo-jin, 53, South Korea, Business
83. Robyn Grew, 54, United Kingdom, Finance
84. Zuzana Caputova, 50, Slovakia, Politics & Policy
85. Mary Meeker, 64, United States, Finance
86. Makiko Ono, 63, Japan, Business
87. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 69, Nigeria, Politics & Policy
88. Mpumi Madisa, 44, South Africa, Business
89. Melanie Perkins, 36, Australia, Business
90. Dominique Senequier, 70, France, Finance
91. Raja Easa Al Gurg, United Arab Emirates, Business
92. Julia Gillard, 62, United Kingdom, Philanthropy
93. Samia Suluhu Hassan, 63, Tanzania, Politics & Policy
94. Xiomara Castro, 64, Honduras, Politics & Policy
95. Kirsten Green, 52, United States, Finance
96. Choi Soo-yeon, 42, South Korea, Business
97. Jenny Lee, 51, Singapore, Finance
98. Mo Abudu, 59, Nigeria, Media & Entertainment
99. Mia Mottley, 58, Barbados, Politics & Policy
100. Barbie, 64, USA, Media & Entertainment