“I launched EbonyLife TV, the first African woman to launch a TV channel, the global press call me The Oprah of Africa”, Mo Abudu said on her twitter handle in affirmation of her place in talk show business.
The screen goddess was full of gratitude and prayers as she saw the dream of Ebony TV come into fruition two weeks ago. “For all your support, thank you. For your prayers, I am grateful. This has to be God”. The launch of the Tv show was one that drew the Lords of the global scene to each other or what could have made Steve Forbes, the owner of the reputable Forbes Magazine, hop on a plane to catch an unusual appointment in Nigeria? Or who could have been able to pull together an assembly of stars and the best of Nigerian celebrities on a voyage of exhilarating fun that lasted six hours? It was Mosunmola Abudu, that delectable television personality and host of popular television show, Moments With Mo.
Recently at the Eko Hotel and suites, the likes of Chief Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Genevieve Nnaji, D’Banj, Rita Dominic and a host of others were on hand to witness the launch of Ebony Life TV, a project that registered Mo Abudu in history as the first woman to own a television network in Africa. It was like the fusion of dreams for her as she took to her twitter handle that day and tweeted. ”I want to thank my mother and my children. Thank you for understanding me always. I am humbled and extremely grateful. I am filled with so much excitement tonight. After all the hardwork, EbonyLifeTV is about to take off! For all your support, thank you. For your prayers, I am grateful. This has to be God”.
The TV host, seven years ago, berthed the Moment With Mo, which became the darling of viewers and revealed innermost secrets of world leaders and celebrities like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Hilary Clinton, John Kufour, R Kelly and Rio Ferdinand, to mention a few, in no-holds-barred interviews – in the footsteps of one of her mentors, Oprah Winfrey, who is regarded as the most powerful black face on Tv.
But it was not an easy climb up the ladder as Mo Abudu in a recent entrepreneurship programme organized by women of West African Enterpreneurship asserted, while at Exonn Mobile,” I tried my hands on a lot of businesses, but “I put God first in all I do, next are my children, every other thing comes after” –
Just like her complexion, her Ebony Life TV has a vision of creating contents that speak to Africans, with a focus on people within the ages of 18 and 34 who the host regards as the continent’s custodian of the present and the future.
The Ebony Life TV that is now being aired on DSTV is set to transform the vision by shining a bright light on the so called ‘dark continent’s riches, with different exciting segments with focus on talented young entrepreneurs, fabulous art scenes, up and coming fashion designers, provocative authors and sassy musicians.
A programme will be hosted by singers Banky W and Tiwa Savage, who will dissect topics on skin bleaching, its spread and issues on men’s choice of light-skinned black women.
Another programme will feature a specially commissioned movie, New Horizons, which beams light on the plight of women across Africa that are subjected to domestic abuse.
Another will feature radio host, Oreka Godis, who starred in Love Lounge where questions are raised on sexologists, life coaches and psychotherapy.
Her Moments with Mo, has also launched a search for “young , charming, brilliant , exciting and dynamic persons to co host the long running, but rejuvenated show, alongside its pioneering host, Mo Abudu”.
Mo Abudu, who was born in the United Kingdom some 48 years ago, relocated back to Nigeria with her parents at a tender age, where she had her early schooling, before returning to England where she had a Master’s degree in Human Resourse Management in the University of Westminster.
A woman of many parts and different interests, Mo Abudu has been successful in TV and her first love, human resources management.
She started the Vic Lawrence and Associates Limited, which still ranks among the best in HR Management Consultancy, the Moment With Mo which aired for seven years and metamorphosed into Naija Diamonds and now the Ebony Life TV. She is today living her dreams, and with role models like Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey, she is set to conquer Africa.
Little wonder one of Mo’s favourite quotes comes from the stable of her mentor, Oprah Winfrey- “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams”.
[Tribune]