Mosunmola Abudu is her real full name but widely and fondly known as Mo Abudu. She is a talk show hostess, human resource management consultant, TV producer, media personality, entrepreneur, venture capitalist and a humanitarian.
Mo Abudu was born on September 11, 1964 in London to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Akintunde. She hails from Ondo town in Ondo State. She grew up in London where she had primary, secondary and University education.
Abudu’s Educational Background
Abudu attended the Ridgeway School, MidKent College and West Kent College. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development from University of Westminster in London.
Her Journey into the Entertainment World
Mo Abudu started out professionally as a recruitment consultant in 1987 with Atlas Recruitment Consultancy firm in UK.
She later joined Starform Group, a successful business information group in the UK where she had the bulk of experience in research, design and production of several conferences and seminars.
In 1993, Mo Abudu relocated to Nigeria and worked with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (now ExxonMobil) as the head of their Human Resources and Administration.
Abudu resigned from ExxonMobil after a meritorious service to establish her own firm, Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited in 2000, also known as VLA. The company is one of the fastest growing Human Resources consultancy firms in Nigeria. It offers human resource initiatives and management solutions to industries.
Mo Abudu is the founder and CEO of Ebony Life, Africa’s first global black entertainment network which began broadcasting on 1st July, 2013 on Multichoice DSTV Channel 165.
EbonyLife TV is a subsidiary of Media and Entertainment City Africa (MEC Africa). It began broadcasting on MultiChoice DSTV CH 165 and later moved on to Star Times Network and has over 5,000 hours of original drama, talk shows, entertainment and factual contents on the channel.
The Ebony Life which is a product of Mo Abudu has produced a number of movies including The Wedding Party 2, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel and many others.
She also has an executive training centre at Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, Lagos.
Mo Abudu set up what is now known as ‘Inspire Africa’, a platform created to celebrate African culture and diversity. It centres on Africa’s first syndicated daily talk show that celebrates Africa’s achievements and its people. She revealed “we are rich in culture and talents, and our success stories have always been neglected to the background while the ugly stories are magnified”.
Mo Abudu is the Executive Producer and host of Moment with Mo. The talk show airs across over 50 African countries on a cable TV in UK.
She has played host to many celebrities, governors, presidents, Nobel Laureates, including the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and the managing director of IMF- Christine Lagarde.
Mo Abudu’s versatility and hard work has received wide recognition and has been compared to Oprah Winfrey with The Independent and Slate Afrique calling her “Africa’s Oprah” and “Nigerian Winfrey” respectively.
She has also been described by Forbes as an accomplished woman and “Africa’s most successful woman”.
Mo Abudu’s Personal Life
Mo Abudu has been married to Tokunbo Abudu, a lawyer and businessman. They are blessed with a daughter and a son, Temidayo and Adekoyejo Abudu.
Her Humanitarian Work
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’.
Awards
Mo Abudu is indeed a woman of substance, globally recognized. She has won several awards, notably as:
• 2013 Recognized by Forbes Africa as First Woman to Own a Pan Africa TV Channel.
• Made the list of 25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV by Hollywood Reporter 2013
• 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year at International Women’s Day Forum in New York.
• Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) from Babcock University in 2014.
• Listed as one of ‘Forbes Africa Most Successful Women’ in 2015.
• Movie Producer of the Year (English) at City People Movie Awards in 2015
• 2017 Special Recognition at City People Movie Awards.
• IOD Entrepreneurial Award by Institute of Directors Nigeria (IODN) 2017
• 2017 FAME Award of Excellence
• 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 among other numerous awards.
Mo Abudu’s Marital Life
Mo Abudu’s marital life is not known. She is however believed to be in a relationship with her level of fame and wealth.
Mo Abudu’s Net Worth
Mo Abudu is indeed a great African woman with lots of achievements, rated one of the richest and most influential with an estimated net worth of about $5 million dollars.
Many thanks for reading about Mo Abudu’s biography and net worth. Your comments if any, will be appreciated.