Forbes names Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela most powerful woman in Africa

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named in the 2023 “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” on Forbes. Forbes, renowned international business magazine, unveiled its annual list of the most powerful women in the world with Okonjo-Iweala claiming the 87th spot. This is the second consecutive year that Okonjo-Iweala has been ranked. She was also ranked number 91 on the Forbes list in 2022.

Okonjo-Iweala is an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

In March 2021, she became the first woman and African to serve as Director-General of the WTO. As Director-General of the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala has been praised for her leadership in addressing a number of challenges facing the global trading system, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the rise of trade protectionism.

She has been a strong advocate for the use of trade to lift developing countries out of poverty and help them achieve sustainable development.

Earlier in her career, she served two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, from 2003-2006 and 2011–2015; she also briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006.

Okonjo-Iweala was ranked ahead of other prominent African women, including South African businesswoman Mpumi Madisa, Tanzanian President Samia Hassan, and Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu.

The title of most powerful woman in the world for 2023 was awarded to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The European Central Bank President, Christine Lagarde, claimed the second position. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris secured the third position, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following in the fourth spot.