Africa, tell me Africa, is this you, this back that is bent, this back that breaks under the weight of humiliation… but a grave voice answers me; impetuous child, that tree, young and strong, that tree over there splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers, that is your Africa springing up anew… ~ David Diop, Africa
When her parents sent UK born Mosunmola Abudu to stay with her grandparents at their cocoa farm in Ondo State after the family’s relocation to Nigeria, little did they know that she would be doing more than learning about African culture. In the five years she spent in Nigeria before returning to the UK at age 12, little Mo was drinking in the beauty and imbibing the very essence of our continent; passion was being stirred up in her spirit, as her young soul was being prepared for the destiny that awaited her.
With the launch of her exciting new pan-African channel, Ebony Life TV on July 1
st 2013, we now witness the birth of a dream- the substance of Mo Abudu’s lifelong passion to see Africa’s story told by Africans.
Before TV…
Mosunmola Abudu was born on September 11 1964, and educated at Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School Akure, Hammersmith County Secondary School, The Ridgeway School, West Kent College, MidKent College and the University of Westminster, London.
Armed with a Master’s Degree in HR Management, Abudu started off her career in the UK as a recruitment consultant in 1987. She went on to work for the Starform Group, managing the Corporate Credit Management Exhibition from 1990 to 1992.
In 1993 she joined Arthur Andersen for Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited (now ExxonMobil) to head their Human Resources and Training unit. Seven years later, she left to establish a privately owned specialist human resources development company, Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited (popularly known as VLA).
While running VLA, Abudu developed an executive training centre at the Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, Lagos.
All this time, the desire to do more for her beloved Africa, and showcase her country and continent in a positive light, burned deep within Mo, and in 2006,
Moments with Mo made a grand entrance.
Moments…
After weeks of high anticipation, viewers were excited to see the debut episode of
‘Moments with Mo’; Mo Abudu’s new talk show aimed at Africans aged 18-34, on Mnet. The episode had two fabulous guests; ex-footballer/Deal or No Deal Presenter, John Fashanu & JJ Okocha’s wife, Nkechi. John told really nice stories about the ups & downs of life as a successful footballer, marriage, as well as his childhood years in the UK. Nkechi, on the other hand, discussed the paparazzi, desperate girls constantly chasing her husband, as well as the interesting way she & JJ had met.
A member of the British Psychological Society, qualified in occupational and personality testing, Mo was aware that her personality wasn’t a bubbly one. Yet, as she began to relax and ease into her new role as talk show host, and infuse it with her genuine passion to better the lives of others, viewers found that her “serious business person” image ceased to matter. What the show lacked in animation and effervescence, it more than made up for in depth and content.
Her commitment to excellence meant not only superb technical quality and a visually appealing set with its nice background, cosy sofas and classy rug, but enlightening topics and worthy guests including President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Babatunde Fashola, Onyeka Onwenu and Hilary Rodham Clinton.
Moments with Mo was a success! Still, Mo yearned to put more of what Africa had to offer on display.
The Debaters
Driven by her zeal to “give Africa a voice”, Mo created a reality TV show promoting oratory skills; “The Debaters”- just the right forum for participants who felt passionate about certain issues within the society and had been waiting for the perfect media to loudly and convincingly air their views. Funded by Guaranty Trust Bank, the first-of-its-kind Nigerian show launched on 3 October 2009, and was well received by viewers.
Inspire Africa Foundation
Mo Abudu did not believe it was enough to just talk; she wanted to walk the walk and invest in people. To this end, she founded the Inspire Africa Foundation, a human investment arm of Inspire Africa Ltd., registering it as a non-profit organization focused on raising funds to implement society-transforming initiatives.
In January 2009, the Inspire Africa Foundation alongside
Moments with Mo, the Lagos State Government and UNICEF, held a telethon and a charity benefit concert with the theme “Rock with a Conscience”. Donations from the concert went towards the protection of street children, and on the 5
th of December that same year, the Foundation opened a charity store branded “The Designers Outlet for Charity”, in Lagos, Nigeria. Soon after, the foundation set to work developing a children’s shelter called “The Harbour”.
As Executive Producer of Debaters, and Executive Producer and Host of
Moments with Mo, the first syndicated daily talk show on African regional television, it appeared that Mo had arrived, and could now rest on her oars. After all, her shows were broadcast in dozens of countries across the continent in a primetime slot. Impressive!
But no; Africa’s voice was not yet loud enough for Mo.
Ebony Life…
If there’s anything that
Moments with Mo taught Mosunmola Abudu, it is the value of partnership. So when she visited Tinapa and found a state-of-the-art studio with never-before-used equipment, the baby in Mo’s womb leaped for joy and she immediately reached out to potential partners. Thankfully, she found them in the government of Cross River State, and in MTN and Diamond Bank; sponsors who had stood steadfastly by her since the early days of
Moments with Mo.
She knew Africa would demand quality programming- from lifestyle through health, culture, politics, entertainment, tradition, to music and relationships- and she could not afford to disappoint. It would necessitate commitment. It would call for the best hands in the Television Industry. It would require zero tolerance for mediocrity. Then again, it would create dozens of jobs, make history, and give Africa the voice Mo Abudu so longed for her to have.
Mo was ready to give 100% and more. More than four decades after she first visited Africa, she knew beyond a shadow of doubt that she was created for this.
18 months later, homework well done, Mo Abudu’s dream of a 24-hour channel that would be a voice for Africans and people of African descent is a reality. Ebony Life TV is here to stay.
Bravo, Mo Abudu! Africa will never be the same again.
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This article was first published on 4th July 2013
jehonwa
Joy Ehonwa is an editor and a writer who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a proofreading, editing, transcription and ghostwriting service.
Email: pinpointcreatives [at] yahoo.com
Comments (2)
Africa, tell me Africa, is this you, this back that is bent, this back that breaks under the weight of humiliation… but a grave voice answers me; impetuous child, that tree, young and strong, that tree over there splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers, that is your Africa springing up anew… ~ David Diop, Africa
When her parents sent UK born Mosunmola Abudu to stay with her grandparents at their cocoa farm in Ondo State after the family’s relocation to Nigeria, little did they know that she would be doing more than learning about African culture. In the five years she spent in Nigeria before returning to the UK at age 12, little Mo was drinking in the beauty and imbibing the very essence of our continent; passion was being stirred up in her spirit, as her young soul was being prepared for the destiny that awaited her.
With the launch of her exciting new pan-African channel, Ebony Life TV on July 1st 2013, we now witness the birth of a dream- the substance of Mo Abudu’s lifelong passion to see Africa’s story told by Africans.
Before TV…
Mosunmola Abudu was born on September 11 1964, and educated at Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School Akure, Hammersmith County Secondary School, The Ridgeway School, West Kent College, MidKent College and the University of Westminster, London.
Armed with a Master’s Degree in HR Management, Abudu started off her career in the UK as a recruitment consultant in 1987. She went on to work for the Starform Group, managing the Corporate Credit Management Exhibition from 1990 to 1992.
In 1993 she joined Arthur Andersen for Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited (now ExxonMobil) to head their Human Resources and Training unit. Seven years later, she left to establish a privately owned specialist human resources development company, Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited (popularly known as VLA).
While running VLA, Abudu developed an executive training centre at the Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, Lagos.
All this time, the desire to do more for her beloved Africa, and showcase her country and continent in a positive light, burned deep within Mo, and in 2006, Moments with Mo made a grand entrance.
Moments…
After weeks of high anticipation, viewers were excited to see the debut episode of ‘Moments with Mo’; Mo Abudu’s new talk show aimed at Africans aged 18-34, on Mnet. The episode had two fabulous guests; ex-footballer/Deal or No Deal Presenter, John Fashanu & JJ Okocha’s wife, Nkechi. John told really nice stories about the ups & downs of life as a successful footballer, marriage, as well as his childhood years in the UK. Nkechi, on the other hand, discussed the paparazzi, desperate girls constantly chasing her husband, as well as the interesting way she & JJ had met.
A member of the British Psychological Society, qualified in occupational and personality testing, Mo was aware that her personality wasn’t a bubbly one. Yet, as she began to relax and ease into her new role as talk show host, and infuse it with her genuine passion to better the lives of others, viewers found that her “serious business person” image ceased to matter. What the show lacked in animation and effervescence, it more than made up for in depth and content.
Her commitment to excellence meant not only superb technical quality and a visually appealing set with its nice background, cosy sofas and classy rug, but enlightening topics and worthy guests including President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Babatunde Fashola, Onyeka Onwenu and Hilary Rodham Clinton. Moments with Mo was a success! Still, Mo yearned to put more of what Africa had to offer on display.
The Debaters
Driven by her zeal to “give Africa a voice”, Mo created a reality TV show promoting oratory skills; “The Debaters”- just the right forum for participants who felt passionate about certain issues within the society and had been waiting for the perfect media to loudly and convincingly air their views. Funded by Guaranty Trust Bank, the first-of-its-kind Nigerian show launched on 3 October 2009, and was well received by viewers.
Inspire Africa Foundation
Mo Abudu did not believe it was enough to just talk; she wanted to walk the walk and invest in people. To this end, she founded the Inspire Africa Foundation, a human investment arm of Inspire Africa Ltd., registering it as a non-profit organization focused on raising funds to implement society-transforming initiatives.
In January 2009, the Inspire Africa Foundation alongside Moments with Mo, the Lagos State Government and UNICEF, held a telethon and a charity benefit concert with the theme “Rock with a Conscience”. Donations from the concert went towards the protection of street children, and on the 5th of December that same year, the Foundation opened a charity store branded “The Designers Outlet for Charity”, in Lagos, Nigeria. Soon after, the foundation set to work developing a children’s shelter called “The Harbour”.
As Executive Producer of Debaters, and Executive Producer and Host of Moments with Mo, the first syndicated daily talk show on African regional television, it appeared that Mo had arrived, and could now rest on her oars. After all, her shows were broadcast in dozens of countries across the continent in a primetime slot. Impressive!
But no; Africa’s voice was not yet loud enough for Mo.
Ebony Life…
If there’s anything that Moments with Mo taught Mosunmola Abudu, it is the value of partnership. So when she visited Tinapa and found a state-of-the-art studio with never-before-used equipment, the baby in Mo’s womb leaped for joy and she immediately reached out to potential partners. Thankfully, she found them in the government of Cross River State, and in MTN and Diamond Bank; sponsors who had stood steadfastly by her since the early days of Moments with Mo.
She knew Africa would demand quality programming- from lifestyle through health, culture, politics, entertainment, tradition, to music and relationships- and she could not afford to disappoint. It would necessitate commitment. It would call for the best hands in the Television Industry. It would require zero tolerance for mediocrity. Then again, it would create dozens of jobs, make history, and give Africa the voice Mo Abudu so longed for her to have.
Mo was ready to give 100% and more. More than four decades after she first visited Africa, she knew beyond a shadow of doubt that she was created for this.
18 months later, homework well done, Mo Abudu’s dream of a 24-hour channel that would be a voice for Africans and people of African descent is a reality. Ebony Life TV is here to stay.
Bravo, Mo Abudu! Africa will never be the same again.
Good Day,
I would like Africa Connect to join us and participate in African Women in Leadership South Africa, we are having events leading up to our annual African Conference which will host a minimum of 350 Delegates.
Please contact me on my direct line : +27785481533
Thokozile Moyo
Vice President – AWLO South Africa
Good Day,
I would like Africa Connect to join us and participate in African Women in Leadership South Africa, we are having events leading up to our annual African Conference which will host a minimum of 350 Delegates.
Please contact me on my direct line : +27785481533
Thokozile Moyo
Vice President – AWLO South Africa