Hammersmith, West London
Abudu
Mosunmola
Temidayo Abudu
Adekoyejo Abudu.
Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Ebony Life, Executive Producer/Host, Moments with Mo Talk Show; Creator/Executive Producer, The Debaters,
During her days in the university and shortly thereafter, she had a brief modelling stint. However, having done her master’s in HR she started her career as a recruitment consultant in the UK in 1987. Later she joined the Starform Group and managed their Corporate Credit Management Exhibition for two years.
From 1993 to 2000 she worked for Arthur Andersen and headed the Human Resources and Training unit for Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited. She valued this exposure as in gave her the understanding of the corporate world that helped her with her own business endeavours later in life, when she relocated to Nigeria.
She went on to establish her own human resources development company called Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited (VLA). One of her projects was to develop an executive training centre at the Protea Hotel in Oakwood Park, Lagos.
She was in her late twenties and her children were entering their teens, when she decided to make a complete shift in her career from HR to media and show business. In her opinion it was the only way that she could make the impact she wished to make on people’s view of Africa.
She entered show business in Nigeria by taking on the role of Executive Producer and host of the television talk show called ‘Moments with Mo’. The show covers a cross-section of topics including lifestyle, health, culture, politics and entertainment. She has interacted with a wide spectrum of celebrities on the show, ranging from Presidents, Nobel laureates and the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. The show is aired on M-Net to 48 African countries.
She is also the creator and Executive Producer of the reality show called ‘The Debaters’ that has been funded by the Guaranty Trust Bank and aims at giving Africa a voice in world affairs through oratory.
She launched Africa’s first Global Black Multi-Broadcast Entertainment Network called ‘Ebony Life Television’ in 2013. It airs original inspiring programmes targeting the global black audience in order to present a realistic view of Africa and its future path to prosperity.
She also took the plunge into films and started Ebony Life Films in 2014. Her debut film ‘Fifty’ was screened at the London Film Festival and was one of Nigeria’s biggest blockbusters.
Abudu was instrumental in founding ‘The Inspire Africa Foundation’ that is registered as a non-profit making organisation focussed on raising funds for implementation of society transformation initiatives. In 2009, the foundation organised a charity concert with other NGOs that had the theme of ‘Rock with a Conscience’. The funds raised were used for the betterment of street children.
The foundation also has a charity store and a children’s shelter called ‘The Harbour’. Besides fund raising through her foundation, Abudu has contributed large amounts in her personal capacity.
Recognised by Forbes Africa as First Woman to Own a Pan Africa TV Channel 2013
25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV by Hollywood Reporter 2013
Entrepreneur of the Year at International Women’s Day Forum in New York 2014
Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) from Babcock University 2014
Listed as one of ‘Forbes Africa Most Successful Women’ 2015
Movie Producer of the Year (English) at City People Movie Awards 2015
Special Recognition at City People Movie Awards 2017
IoD Entrepreneurial Award by Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoDN) 2017
FAME Award of Excellence 2017
50 Women Making Impact in the Showbiz by Variety Magazine 2018
Glazia Persons of the Year Awards 2018
African Achievers Awards at UK House of Common 2018
FILMS
– Executive Producer, Fifty;
– Co-Producer, The Wedding Party;
Abudu came into contact with influential world figures through her talk show ‘Moments with Mo’.
Her reality show ‘The Debaters’ was instrumental in giving Africa a voice and a view.
Her debut film ‘Fifty’ was screened in the London Film Festival as Nigeria’s official entry.
– Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Honouris Causa), Babcock University;
– Honorary Degree of Doctor of Arts, The University of Westminster, November 13, 2018.
Her parents relocated to Nigeria when she was seven years old and they began to live in Lagos. From there she visited her grandparents who lived on a cocoa farm in Ondo State and learnt about Nigerian culture. She attended Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School in Nigeria till the age of 11.
Her father died when she was 12 years old, after which she returned to the UK for further studies. She attended Hammersmith County Secondary School and moved on to the Ridgeway School in Kent, where she lived with her local guardian in the affluent township of Tunbridge Wells.
She went on to West Kent College and Mid Kent College before she completed her master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster, London. She is also qualified in occupational and personality testing and a member of the British Psychological Society.
Mo Abudu founded ‘The Inspire Africa Foundation’, a non-profit organisation focused on raising funds for implementation of societal transformation initiatives.
In 2009, the foundation organised a charity concert with the theme ‘Rock with a Conscience” with other NGO’s to raise funds that will provide basic amenities for street children.
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’.
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