MO ABUDU: AFRICA’S GOLDEN ICON PAR EXCELLENCE

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Mosunmola Abudu popularly known as Mo Abudu is a phenomenal Nigerian entrepreneur who has been a consistent Brand Nigeria ambassador. She is a media mogul who has broken the proverbial ‘glass ceiling’ for women in Nigeria.

Described as ‘Africa’s Most Successful Woman’ by Forbes in 2015, Abudu has so far shown she is worthy of the title not by just being a successful entrepreneur, but by giving Africa a voice in the international scene a feat of no mean pedigree.

Abudu started her career as human resource management consultant but later switched to entrepreneurial pursuits as a talk show hostess, TV producer, media personality and owner, venture capitalist and philanthropist. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ebony life, Africa’s first global black entertainment and lifestyle network established in 2006. It began broadcasting on MultiChoice DSTV CH 165 in 2013 with over 5,000 hours of original drama, talk shows, entertainment. Factual and informational content has also been created and broadcast on the channel. In 2018, EbonyLife TV launched a number of new initiatives and three project deals with Sony Pictures Television.

Abudu started out professionally as a recruitment consultant in 1987 with Atlas Recruitment Consultancy firm in UK. Afterwards, she joined Starform Group where she was responsible for the research, design and production of several conferences and seminars.

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Her entrepreneurial journey started when she relocated to Nigeria in 1993 and has achieved success in various fields; as an Executive in ExxonMobil for nearly a decade, as the promoter behind the Protea Hotel Oakwood Park, as well as the Founder of Vic Lawrence & Associates, one of Nigeria’s leading Outsourcing firms.

Abudu’s passion about telling Africa’s story in the ‘right light’ informed her entry into the Nigerian entertainment industry. She wanted the neglected success stories of Africa to be magnified as well as enable Africa to tell its story to the world.  This passion of hers birthed her TV shows ‘Inspire Africa’ (a platform where African culture and diversity is celebrated), ‘The Debaters’ (a show that focuses on “giving Africa a voice” by promoting oratory) and ‘Moments with Mo’.

‘Moments With Mo” especially, has earned Abudu the accolade of ‘Africa’s ‘First- Lady of chat’. The show celebrates people and their achievements and was Africa’s first syndicated daily talk show on regional television, with an impressive guest list that includes Hillary Rodham-Clinton, President Muhammadu Buhari, and Christine Lagarde, amongst others.

Still in a bid to get Africa on the international market, Abudu established EbonyLife Films in 2014; a film production unit of EbonyLife. She debuted as a movie producer with a movie titled ‘Fifty’. The production unit was also part of ELFIKE Film Collective that produced Nigerian 2016 blockbuster ‘The Wedding Party’. ELFIKE Film Collective is a partnership of renowned movie makers in Nigeria: FilmOne Distribution, EbonyLife Films, Inkblot Productions and Koga Studios. These film houses bring in their years of experience and resource to produce high production value Nigerian movies with global appeal.

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Mo Abudu founded ‘The Inspire Africa Foundation’, a non-profit organisation focused on raising funds for implementation of societal transformation initiatives. In partnership with Monero Construction, Inspire Africa Foundation built ‘The Habour’, a one hundred– bed home for street children in Lagos. The foundation also has a charity store branded ‘The Designer Outlet for Charity’.

In 2013, Abudu was recognized by Forbes as First Woman to Own a Pan Africa TV Channel and listed among ’25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV by Hollywood Reporter. She was also awarded the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at International Women’s Day Forum in New York in 2014, as well as an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) from Babcock University.

Other notable awards attached to Abudu include, ‘Movie Producer of the Year’ (English) at City People Movie Awards (2015), ‘IoD Entrepreneurial’ Award by Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoDN) (2017), 50 Women Making Impact in the Showbiz by Variety Magazine (2018), African Achievers Awards at UK House of Common (2018).

With her diligence and hardwork, it came as no surprise when for the first time in history of Africa, Abudu became the first African to be honoured with the MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur in 2019.  She also emerged as the chairperson of the 47th International Emmy Awards in New York, a feat scoring her yet another ‘first’ at the international scene.

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She is highly sought after for her in-depth knowledge on the African and global creative industry. She has been a guest speaker at the University of Cambridge – Judge Business School, Wharton School of Business, Harvard University and New York University Stern School of Business amongst others

She has been likened to American Oprah Winfrey by being called ‘Africa’s Oprah’ or ‘Nigerian Winfrey’.

Abudu was born on 11th of September, 1964 in Hammersmith, west London to the family Mr and Mrs Lawrence Akintunde. She hails from Ondo town in Ondo State. Mo Abudu spent her early life in London and attended the Ridgeway School, MidKent College and West Kent College. She also has a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development from University of Westminster in London. She was married to Tokunbo Abudu, a lawyer and businessman. They had a daughter and a son, Temidayo Abudu and Adekoyejo Abudu.

In Mo Abudu, BRANDPOWER celebrates a Golden Icon.