Mosunmola Abudu, sometimes known as Mo Abudu, is a Nigerian media entrepreneur and philanthropist who was born in the United Kingdom. She earned her master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of London and began her HR career in the United Kingdom. She was persuaded, however, that entering show business was the only way to leave a lasting effect on the minds of people who had a mistaken perception of Africa. She is well-known for her talk show, ‘Moments with Mo,’ in which she interviews intellectuals and politicians from all over the world. She founded ‘Ebony Life Television,’ Africa’s first global black multi-broadcast entertainment network, and is the Executive Producer of the reality show ‘The Debaters,’ which provides Africa a voice. She has founded a number of non-profit trusts and charitable organizations in order to help the impoverished and downtrodden in her country. She was named the first African woman to start a Pan African TV station by Forbes Media and received the Entrepreneur of the Year award. She was named one of the 25 most powerful women in global television by the Hollywood Reporter, and she was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree.
Childhood and Adolescence
Mo Abudu was born in London on September 11, 1964, to Nigerian parents from the Ondo state of Nigeria. She was the middle child in a family of three sisters. When she was seven years old, her parents moved to Nigeria and settled in Lagos.
She then went to see her grandparents on a cocoa estate in Ondo State, where she learned about Nigerian culture. She went to Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School in Nigeria till she was eleven years old.
Her father died when she was 12 years old, and she went to the United Kingdom to continue her education. She went to Hammersmith County Secondary School before transferring to the Ridgeway School in Kent, where she resided with her local guardian in the affluent Tunbridge Wells township.
She went on to West Kent College and Mid Kent College before graduating from the University of Westminster in London with a master’s degree in human resource management. She is also a member of the British Psychological Society and is qualified in occupational and personality assessment.
Career of Abudu
She had a brief modeling career during her time at university and immediately after. She began her career as a recruitment consultant in the United Kingdom in 1987 after completing her master’s degree in human resources. She afterward joined the Starform Group and spent two years managing their Corporate Credit Management Exhibition.
She worked for Arthur Andersen from 1993 to 2000 and was the chief of Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited’s Human Resources and Training unit.
She treasured this experience since it provided her with an insight into the corporate world, which she eventually used to help her with her own business ventures when she went to Nigeria later in life.
Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited, her own human resources development firm, was founded by her (VLA). The development of an executive training center at the Protea Hotel in Oakwood Park, Lagos, was one of her undertakings.
She was in her late twenties, with her children approaching adolescence, when she chose to change careers from HR to the media and show industry. It was, in her opinion, the only way she could have the impact she desired on people’s perceptions of Africa.
She got her start in show business in Nigeria as the Executive Producer and Host of the ‘Moments with Mo’ television chat program. Lifestyle, health, culture, politics, and entertainment are among the topics covered on the show.
On the show, she has engaged with a wide range of luminaries, including presidents, Nobel laureates, and Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State. M-Net broadcasts the show in 48 African nations.
She is also the founder and Executive Producer of the Guaranty Trust Bank-funded reality show ‘The Debaters,’ which attempts to give Africa a voice in world issues through oratory.
In 2013, she founded ‘Ebony Life Television,’ Africa’s first global black multi-broadcast entertainment network. It broadcasts unique inspiring programming aimed at a global black audience in order to provide a genuine picture of Africa and its future prospects for success.
She also ventured into filmmaking in 2014, with Ebony Life Films. Her maiden feature, ‘Fifty,’ premiered at the London Film Festival and went on to become one of Nigeria’s biggest box office hits.
Abudu was instrumental in the establishment of ‘The Inspire Africa Foundation,’ a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funding for the implementation of social reform activities.
In 2009, the foundation held a charity concert with other NGOs that had the theme of ‘Rock with a Conscience’. The money raised was used to improve the lives of street children.
‘The Harbour,’ a children’s refuge run by the organization, also offers a charity store. Abudu has made significant personal contributions in addition to raising funds through her organization.
Major Works of Abudu
Abudu’s talk program, ‘Moments with Mo,’ brought her into contact with powerful world people.
‘The Debaters,’ her reality show, was crucial in giving Africa a voice and a perspective.
Her debut film, ‘Fifty,’ was screened as Nigeria’s official submission at the London Film Festival.
Achievements & Awards
She was named the first African woman to start a Pan African TV station by Forbes Media, and she was honored with the Entrepreneur of the Year award by ‘Women Week’ in New York.
She was named one of the 25 most powerful women in global television by the ‘Hollywood Reporter.’ She was also awarded the FAME Women Award of Excellence and received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Babcock University in Nigeria.
Personal History and Legacy
She currently resides in Lagos with her son and daughter, who are the result of her brief marriage to Tokunbo Abudu. She adores her children and spends as much time with them as she can while she is at home.
Her job is highly demanding, so she travels much around Africa, Europe, and the United States. She has always championed the cause of her motherland’s people in all of her activities.
Estimated Net worth
In the years 2020-2021, her net worth increased dramatically. Mo Abudu makes the most of her money as a successful entrepreneur. She is a Londoner. Abudu has a net worth of $5 million dollars.
Trivia
Her goal with her talk programs is to spotlight the accomplishments of lesser-known Africans so that they can serve as role models for others.
When Abudu was studying in the UK, people asked her crazy things like, “Do you live on trees and dance around fires in your country?” Abudu decided to change the way the world saw Africa.
She was the brand ambassador for AVON Cosmetics in the African market during her brief modeling career.
When she decided to change careers from Human Resources to Show Business, she was heavily motivated by Oprah Winfrey. She attempted to contact Winfrey through email for advice but did not receive a response at the time.