Mo Abudu, CEO and chairwoman of Ebony Life TV, has her name on a list of 100 business visionaries compiled by US-based magazine, Business Insider. The Nigerian is the only African on the magazine’s impressive lineup which also included Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook (who was top of the list), Bill and Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.
Mosunmola Abudu, whose name came in at number 56, gained prominence in the Nigerian entertainment industry with her TV talk show, Moments with Mo. In 2013, she launched Ebony Television, which has since grown to become a mainstay in the world of African television entertainment. The channel broadcasts to viewers in 49 countries on the continent including South Africa, as well as the UK and the Caribbean. Mosunmola’s achievements in the world of television entertainment, especially with her popular talk show Moments with Mo, has caused some to refer to her as “Africa’s Oprah Winfrey”.
Business Insider says its list, which it labelled “The Creators” was about recognising companies which create lasting value for their shareholders, employees, consumers and society. “These companies transcend the boundaries of capitalism and generate creative worth that challenges the idea of traditional business success”, an introduction to the list read.
In the recent past, Mo has been listed as one of the 25 most powerful women by the Hollywood Reporter. She has become an important figure on the international TV entertainment scene.