Okonjo-Iweala Celebrates Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful Women Recognition

World Trade Organisation Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has celebrated her inclusion on Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women list for 2025, marking her eighth appearance on the influential global ranking.

In a post shared on her verified X handle, Okonjo-Iweala expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as both an honour and a reminder of the weight of leadership.

She noted that being listed again reinforced her commitment to strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system and promoting fairness in global commerce.

The WTO chief also extended her congratulations to fellow African women who made the list, including Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, DRC Prime Minister Suminwa Judith, Bidvest CEO Mpumi Madisa, EbonyLife’s Mo Abudu and Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd, continues to break barriers as the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, an appointment she assumed in March 2021.

 “Nice to make (for the eighth time) the Forbes List of the 100 most powerful women of the world 2025 and to be on the cover of the magazine. With power comes responsibility” she wrote.

“We are doing our best to fight for and reform the rules-based multilateral trading system, which the world needs to avoid a chaotic approach to world trade that would hurt the smallest and least powerful countries.”

Forbes described Okonjo-Iweala as an economist with over three decades of global experience, noting her extensive background in development finance, vaccine leadership, and economic reform.