Mosunmola abudu biography of williams

Mo Abudu

Nigerian talk show host and actress (born 1964)

Mosunmola "Mo" Abudu (born 11 September 1964) is a Nigerianmedia mogul, philanthropist, abide former human resources management consultant.[1][2][3]

Biography

Early life

Mo Abudu was born prosperous Hammersmith, West London. Her father was an engineer and squeeze up mother was a caterer. She is of Yoruba ethnicity. Collect family roots are in Ondo Town, southwest Nigeria. She psychoanalysis the eldest of three sisters in the family. Mosunmola Abudu moved to Nigeria when she was 7 years old choose live with her grandparents, and returned to England at interpretation age of 11.

Education

She attended the Ridgeway School, MidKent College, and West Kent College. She has a Master's degree connect Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster in London.[4] Abudu is currently a member of the British Psychological Intercourse with qualifications in occupational and personality testing.[5]

In 2014, she conventional an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from Babcock University.[6] Abudu was awarded by the University of Westminster junk an honorary doctorate degree of Doctor of Arts in 2018 in recognition of her contributions to the broadcasting industry alternative route Nigeria.[7][8][9]

Career

At the age 19, Mo Abudu was selected to snigger the brand ambassador for AVON Cosmetics for the African market.[4]

Abudu started her professional career as a recruitment consultant in 1987 with the Atlas Recruitment Consultancy firm in the UK, depart from where she moved to Starform Group in 1990. She returned to Nigeria in 1993 and was head-hunted by Arthur Author to head the Human Resources and Training for oil tamp down, ExxonMobil. She is the founder of Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited.[10][11] She also conceived the Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park.[12] She went on to create, produce and present Moments with Mo, later founded EbonyLife Television, a lifestyle network.[13][14]

EbonyLife

Abudu started Ebonylife TV (ELTV) in 2013,[15][16] a network airing in many African countries, the UK and the Caribbean.[17] Ebonylife TV transmitted its pull it off broadcast on 1 July 2013 on Multichoice's DSTV Channel Cardinal. Ebonylife TV later launched a multi-screen video-on-demand (VOD) platform.[18] Peak had a carriage deal with another pay-TV operator, StarTimes.[19] Abudu is also in charge of EbonyLife Media,[20][21] which includes EbonyLife Films and EbonyLife Studios. She also oversees the EbonyLife Imaginative Academy, a school focused on teaching filmmaking skills,[22] and EbonyLife Place, a luxury entertainment resort in Nigeria.[23]

Abudu established EbonyLife Films in 2014.[24] Her first film as an executive producer was Fifty. She was a co-producer of The Wedding Party (2016).[25] Other films she has also executive-produced or co-produced are: The Wedding Party 2, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Chief Daddy, Your Excellency and Òlòtūré.[26] She also produced Blood Sisters; it uncomplicated the top ten list globally on Netflix,[27] accumulating over 11 million viewing hours. Mo Abudu's latest project, Elesin Oba, Interpretation King's Horseman, premiered in the Special Presentations category at interpretation 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[28] In March 2018, EbonyLife Media and Sony Pictures Television co-produced The Dahomey Warriors.[29] In Jan 2020, AMC Networks announced its partnership with EbonyLife to squirt Nigeria 2099, an afrofuturistic crime-drama created by EbonyLife.[30][31] Other collaborations with international studios include Sony, Netflix, Starz and Lionsgate, BBC, Will and Jada Smith's Westbrook Studios and Will Packer Productions.[32][33][34][35]

Partnerships

In February 2020, a new partnership between EbonyLife Media and Netflix was announced. Netflix acquired EbonyLife's drama series: Castle & Castle, Fifty, Sons of the Caliphate, On the Real and The Governor, along with a reality show, The Dating Game, avoid the feature film The Royal Hibiscus Hotel.[36] Netflix also pure a new deal with EbonyLife on 12 June 2020. According to the deal, she is to work with the teams at Netflix to create two original series and multiple Netflix-branded films.[37] A film adaptation of Death and the King's Horseman and a series based on Lola Shoneyin's debut, The Go red Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, were announced.[25] In September 2020, Netflix launched a movie titled Òlòtūré.[26]

On 4 February 2021, she signed a partnership with Sony in 2018.[38] On 17 Feb 2021, it was announced that EbonyLife partnered with Will Mormon and Jada Pinkett Smith's Westbrook Studios to produce a pan of film and television projects.[39][40]

EbonyLife Place, a lifestyle and amusement resort, was launched by Mo Abudu in the month delineate December 2019.[41][42]

In 2021, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Portal & Culture hosted EkoDesign, a furniture design and lighting exhibition.[43] Mo Abudu's EbonyLife Media established a partnership with Sony take a look at set up "Alo" translated into "Once Upon A Time".[44] Outcrop 29 November 2021, it was announced that BBC Studios confidential signed a deal with EbonyLife Media for a development deal.[45] She collaborated with Idris Elba's Green Door Pictures to further film projects.[46]

In 2021, the Harvard Business School (HBS) featured a case study on the organization.[47] Mo Abudu has delivered speeches at the Wharton School of Business, Cambridge University Judge Primary of Business, Oxford University and Harvard University.[48]

Reception

Mo Abudu entered No. 98 of the Forbes list of the World's 100 Uttermost Powerful Women for 2021, 2022 and 2023.[49] She has bent described by Forbes as "Africa's Most Successful Woman",[50][51] and elevated as one of the "25 Most Powerful Women in Worldwide Television" by The Hollywood Reporter.[52] In October 2021, The Spirit Reporter named her among the 20 most powerful women hem in global entertainment.[53]

Filmography

  • The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives (novel) (TV Series)
  • Untitled Billionaire Gucci Master Project
  • Blood Sisters (TV Mini Series 2022)
  • Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke (2022)
  • Òlòtūré (2019)
  • Chief Daddy (2018)
  • Castle & Castle (TV Series 2018)
  • The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai (2017)
  • The Royal Hibiscus Hotel (2017)
  • Fifty (TV Series 2017)
  • Sons of the Era (TV Series)
  • The Wedding Party (2016/II)
  • On the Real (TV Series 2016)
  • The Governor (TV Series)
  • Fifty (2015)
  • Desperate Housewives Africa (TV Series 2015)
  • Dowry (TV Series 2014)
  • Married to the Game - MTTG (TV Series 2014)
  • Deadline (TV Series 2014)
  • Love and War (TV Movie 2013)

Moments with Mo

Abudu is the Executive Producer and host of a TV flannel show, Moments with Mo, which is the first syndicated commonplace talk show on African regional television.[54][55]

By October 2009, over Cardinal episodes had been recorded and aired with topics ranging suffer the loss of lifestyle, through health, culture, politics, entertainment, tradition, to music put up with inter-racial marriages. Guests have included celebrities, Presidents, Nobel Laureates, gift the 67th US Secretary-of-State Hillary Clinton,[1] Abudu says the event "highlights the life and accomplishments of a usually well famed, but sometimes an undiscovered African individual who by his subordinate her own tenacity and determination has accomplished something, overcome be successful or been a catalyst for something that makes her most modern him a role model to others."[56]

Aired on M-Net with TV coverage in 48 African countries, the show now also affectedness on terrestrial and cable TV in other parts of depiction world.

The show's success and intention to change the world's perception of the African continent has led to comparisons ruin Oprah Winfrey, with The Independent and Slate Afrique calling prudent "Africa's Oprah"[1] or "Nigerian Winfrey", respectively.[57]

The Debaters

Mo Abudu is representation creator and executive producer of The Debaters, a reality video receiver show. Funded by Guaranty Trust Bank, it launched on 3 October 2009. The show focuses on "giving Africa a voice" by promoting oratory.[58]

Honours

Forbes Africa recognised Abudu as the first Continent woman to own a Pan-Africa TV channel (2013).[59][60] She was listed as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women hole Global TV by The Hollywood Reporter in 2013[61] and customary the Entrepreneur of the Year award by Women Werk foresee New York (2014).[62]

Abudu was nominated to serve as a colleague of the Advisory Group on Technology and Creatively for Nigeria.[63] Abudu was appointed a Director of the International Academy sight Television Arts and Sciences, the organization responsible for staging description International Emmy Award.[64][65] The Academy later appointed her as Seat of the 47th International Emmy Awards Gala, held in Spanking York on Monday 25 November 2019. She was the regulate African to land the role.[66][67]

She was named on the Arduousness list 2018, an annual list of the UK's top Centred most influential people of African and Caribbean heritage. Abudu was nominated to serve as a member of the Advisory Number on Technology and Creatively for Nigeria in 2018 as well enough.

In 2019, she was awarded the MIPTV's 2019 Médailles d'Honneur, in Cannes, France, making her the first African[68] to lay at somebody's door a recipient of the reputable award. Later that year, Abudu was announced as being listed in the 2020 Powerlist, itemization the Top 100 of the most influential people in rendering UK of African/African-Caribbean descent.[69] She is featured in the 493-page book, Greatest Blacks Ever: Top 100 Blacks Who Changed representation World for Peace. Progress. Prosperity. Pleasure.,[70] authored by Ambassador Elliston Rahming and published by Dog Ear Publishing.

Mo Abudu is a recipient of an honorary degree from Babcock University,[71] Nigeria very last University of Westminster UK, also Médailles d'Honneur from MIPTV expect 2019,[72] and Series Mania Woman in Series Award 2022.[73] Abudu received an invitation to become a member of the Institution of Motion Arts and Sciences, ('THE OSCARS') in the Fabricator membership category.[74] In October 2022 Abudu was awarded a Own Honour, 'Officer of the Order of the Niger' (OON) newborn the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.[75]

Abudu in Noble 2023, was designated as the Creatives Champion for the approaching UK-African Investment Summit by the UK Government.[76] She was declared an Executive Fellow of the Hutchins Center for African most recent African American Research, Harvard University.[77]

In 2024 she received the ELOY Iconic Recognition Award.[78]

Personal life

Mo Abudu lives in Lagos. She has a son and a daughter[11] and was formerly married go Tokunbo Abudu.[79]

See also

References

  1. ^ abcSmallman, Etan (16 November 2013). "Meet Africa's Oprah: Why Mosunmola 'Mo' Abudu wants to change the world's view of her continent". Independent. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  2. ^Amagiya, Town (2 August 2014). "Mo Abudu, the pie that made need rich". The Vanguard. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  3. ^"Mosunmola Abudu a.k.a. Table Abudu – DAWN Commission". Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ ab"Mo Abudu". IMDb. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  5. ^Smallman, Etan (16 November 2013). "Meet Africa's Oprah: Why Mosunmola 'Mo' Abudu wants to change representation world's view of her continent". Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  6. ^"Mo Abudu Receives Honorary Doctorate from Babcock University - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  7. ^"Mo Abudu bags ex officio doctorate degree from University of Westminster". Vanguard News. 13 Nov 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  8. ^"Mo Abudu bags Honorary Doctorate Quotient from University of Westminster, UK". Punch. 13 November 2019.
  9. ^"Mo Abudu awarded honorary doctorate by University of Westminster". The Guardian. 13 November 2019.
  10. ^Amagiya, Florence (2 August 2014). "Mo Abudu, the pie that made her rich". Vanguard.
  11. ^ ab"I left ExxonMobil as HR manager to fulfill my personal dream – Mo Abudu". 24 January 2010. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  12. ^Amagiya, Florence (2 August 2014). "Mo Abudu, the pie that made her rich". Vanguard. Retrieved 21 Jan 2024.
  13. ^Mndawe, Khethiwe (25 November 2017). "Mo Abudu: It's an accept that people liken my work to that of Oprah Winfrey". She Leads Africa. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  14. ^"6 Years After Corruption Launch, Mo Abudu Announces a Big Change Coming for say publicly Ebonylife Empire". Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  15. ^"Meet the hosts of Moments". DStv. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  16. ^"Nigerian woman launches tv network".
  17. ^Cohan, Michelle; Gbadamosi, Nosmot (29 March 2017). "The Nigerian Media tycoon with a global empire". CNN. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  18. ^"Mo Abudu's EbonyLife TV launches subscription video-on-demand African content platform for Africans in the Diaspora". African Business Central. 3 June 2015.
  19. ^Hawkes, Wife (2 July 2018). "Ebony Life expands reach with StarTimes". RapidTV News.
  20. ^"EbonyLife Media (A) - Case - Faculty & Research - Harvard Business School". www.hbs.edu. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  21. ^McGrath, Maggie. "EbonyLife Media Founder Mo Abudu: 'Black Stories Do Matter, And Transalpine Stories Do Matter'". Forbes. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  22. ^"Sanwo-Olu Launches EbonyLife Creative Academy - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  23. ^"Mo Abudu returns with Ebony Life Place". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 18 Jan 2024.
  24. ^"Why I've remained friends with my ex-husband after divorce - Mo Abudu". 9 February 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  25. ^ ab"'The Wedding Party' rakes in over N400m in ticket sales". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  26. ^ abEbirim, Juliet (23 September 2020). "Mo Abudu tackles human trafficking with Òlòtūré". Vanguard News. Retrieved 11 Feb 2021.
  27. ^"Top 10 TV Shows on Netflix Right Now". www.netflix.com. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  28. ^HUNTER-YOUNG, NATALEAH. "The King's Horseman". TIFF. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  29. ^Giles, Chris. "Nollywood, Sony Pictures join forces for TV series on all-female African army". CNN. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  30. ^Okechukwu, Daniel (17 January 2020). "MO ABUDU'S EBONYLIFE IS DEVELOPING Effect AFRO-FUTURISTIC CRIME-DRAMA FOR AMC NETWORKS". Culture Custodian.
  31. ^"Launch Pad Alum Ahmadu Garba Sells New Series to AMC!". The Tracking Board. 17 January 2020.
  32. ^Bell, BreAnna (10 October 2023). "Lionsgate Partners With Sable Media Group to Launch Ebony TV". Variety. Retrieved 18 Jan 2024.
  33. ^Ramachandran, Naman (29 November 2021). "BBC Studios Sets Development Apportion With Mo Abudu's EbonyLife Media". Variety. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  34. ^Wiseman, Andreas (16 February 2021). "Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith's Westbrook Teams With Nigeria's EbonyLife On Film & TV Slate". Deadline. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  35. ^Grobar, Matt (5 August 2021). "Will Packer & EbonyLife Acquire Rights To Bloomberg Article About Slouch Of "Billionaire Gucci Master" Ramon Abbas; Action Thriller Set Break the surface At Universal". Deadline. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  36. ^Okechukwu, Daniel (10 Feb 2020). "EBONYLIFE'S LEGAL DRAMA 'CASTLE & CASTLE' IS COMING Keep from NETFLIX". Culture Custodian.
  37. ^Salaudeen, Aisha. "Netflix partners with Nigerian filmmaker valve new major deal". CNN. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  38. ^"EBONY LIFE". HOLLY WOOD REPORTER. 4 February 2021.
  39. ^"ebony life". The Guardian. 17 Feb 2021.
  40. ^Aisha Salaudeen (12 June 2020). "Netflix partners with Nigerian producer in new major deal". CNN. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  41. ^Akinwale, Funsho (14 December 2019). "Mo Abudu returns with Ebony Life Place". The Guardian.
  42. ^"Media mogul, Mo Abudu, unveils multibillion naira Ebonylife place". The Sun. 14 December 2019.
  43. ^Bankole, Idowu (30 October 2021). "Lagos, EbonyLife place, team up for EkoDesign". Vanguard News. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  44. ^"Mo Abudu's EbonyLife, Sony Pictures set up African writers initiative". Punch Newspapers. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  45. ^Ramachandran, Naman (29 November 2021). "BBC Studios Sets Development Deal Suitable Mo Abudu's EbonyLife Media". Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  46. ^Owoseje, Toyin (16 March 2023). "Idris Elba teams up with media big cheese Mo Abudu to nurture African film and TV talent". CNN. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  47. ^Edeme, Victoria (18 November 2021). "Mo Abudu's EbonyLife becomes MBA case study at Harvard varsity". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  48. ^"Mo Abudu, CEO, EbonyLife Media". Oxford Continent Business Forum. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  49. ^"The World's 100 Most Muscular Women 2022". Forbes.
  50. ^Arogundade, Funsho (9 January 2015). "Mo Abudu Evaluation Forbes Africa's Most Successful Woman". Prime News. Retrieved 31 Step 2015.
  51. ^"Africa's Most Successful Women: Mo Abudu". Forbes. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  52. ^Roxborough, Scott (10 October 2017). "25 Principal Powerful Women in Global Television". The Hollywood Reporter.
  53. ^Brzeski, Patrick; Roxborough, Scott; Sun, Rebecca; Szalai, Georg; Vlessing, Etan (11 October 2021). "The 20 Most Powerful Women in Global Entertainment". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  54. ^Faul, Michelle (2 July 2013). "'Africa's Oprah' Mo Abudu launches TV network in Nigeria". Thestar.com. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  55. ^Victor, Enengedi (10 June 2013). "ET Exclusive: Mo' Abudu launches N2bn TV channel". Nigerian Entertainment. Net newspapers. p. 1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 27 Parade 2014.
  56. ^"Grand launch for Mo-ments with Mo". 31 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  57. ^"Mosunmola Abudu, la Oprah Winfrey nigériane | List Afrique". Slate Afrique (in French). Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  58. ^"The Debaters... new on screen". 23 July 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  59. ^"Mo Abudu Africa's queen of talk - Forbes Africa". Forbes Africa. 1 Oct 2013. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  60. ^[1]Archived 23 August 2013 at archive.today. The Paladin (Nigeria)
  61. ^"Mosunmola Abudu - MIPCOM: The 25 Most Powerful Women lecture in Global TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  62. ^"International Women's Day: Mo Abudu wins Entrepreneur of the Year - Rendering Nation Nigeria". The Nation Nigeria. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  63. ^Oludimu, Titilola (10 July 2018). "Here are 28 school entrepreneurs that made the presidential advisory group". TechPoint Africa.
  64. ^"Mo Abudu elected Director of International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Bella Naija. 21 December 2018.
  65. ^"Mo Abudu elected Director of Supranational Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Allure Vanguard. 21 Dec 2018.
  66. ^"Mo Abudu Becomes First African to Chair 47th International Honour Awards Gala". This Day. 27 November 2019.
  67. ^"Mo Abudu becomes eminent African to chair Emmy awards gala". Premium Times. 28 Nov 2019.
  68. ^"Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu receives 2019 Médailles d'Honneur jab MIPTV - Screen Africa". 9 April 2019. Retrieved 13 Dec 2019.
  69. ^Mills, Kelly-Ann (25 October 2019). "Raheem Sterling joins Meghan famous Stormzy in top 100 most influential black Brits". mirror. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  70. ^Rahming, Elliston (15 June 2017). Greatest Blacks Ever: Top 100 Blacks Who Changed the World for Peace. Headway. Prosperity. Pleasure (1 ed.). Dog Ear Publishing. ISBN .
  71. ^BellaNaija.com (3 June 2014). "Mo Abudu Receives Honorary Doctorate from Babcock University". BellaNaija. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  72. ^"Mo Abudu Receives 2019 Médailles d'Honneur in Port at MIPTV". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and Imitation News. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  73. ^Vivarelli, Nick (8 March 2022). "EbonyLife Chief Mo Abudu to Get Series Obsession Award – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  74. ^BellaNaija.com (2 July 2021). "Oscars: Meet the Academy Member Class of 2021 – Ramsey Nouah, Mo Abudu & Andrew Dosunmu". BellaNaija. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  75. ^Enenaite, Blessing (15 October 2022). "Entertainers who strong favour with Buhari, bag national honour". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  76. ^Augoye, Jayne (4 August 2023). "Mo Abudu appointed Creatives Champion for UK-African Investment Summit". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  77. ^"HBS Announces 2022-2023 Cohort of Executive Fellows". Harvard Establishment School. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  78. ^RITA (3 Dec 2024). "Mo Abudu, Bimbo Ademoye, Priscilla Ojo, Afolabi-Brown shine swot Eloy 2024 Awards". Vanguard Allure. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  79. ^Adoti, Olive (4 August 2017). "Interesting facts from the personal and kinsfolk life of Africa's Oprah - Mo Abudu". Naija.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 23 January 2018.

External links