By Sofiyyah Layole
Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu, Nigerian media mogul and CEO of EbonyLife Group, stands today as one of Africa’s most powerful women.
Often described as a visionary, she has transformed EbonyLife into an international brand with a presence in Lagos, London, and Los Angeles.
Through strategic collaborations with major global players like Netflix, Sony, BBC Studios, and Lionsgate, she has propelled African storytelling onto the world stage, proving the continent’s narratives have global appeal.
From HR to Media mogul
Mo Abudu began her professional career in Human Resources in the UK before returning to Nigeria in 1993 to head HR and Administration at ExxonMobil. Her initial drive to strengthen Nigeria’s talent pool led her to establish Vic-Lawrence & Associates, a successful human resource firm.
She also diversified into hospitality with the development of the Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, showcasing her business acumen.
Her pivot to media began with the founding of Inspire Africa, an edutainment company, where she created and presented the syndicated talk show, Moments with Mo. This success paved the way for her bold move in 2013 to launch EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first global entertainment network on DSTV.
Impact on film and global reach
The channel’s success led to her break into the film industry with EbonyLife Films in 2014, which produced some of Nollywood’s biggest hits, including Fifty, The Wedding Party, and Chief Daddy. She also executive-produced the 2020 Netflix original, Oloture.
Her influence extends beyond Nigeria through international co-productions and deals with Netflix, Sony, and Hollywood studios, firmly positioning her as a powerful advocate for African creativity worldwide.
One of her key contributions to the Nigerian filmmaking industry is the establishment of the EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA) in collaboration with the Lagos State Government.
ELCA is a standard film school that provides short professional courses to train youth in various fields from Acting and Producing to Directing and Cinematography making them globally competent film professionals. Since 2021, the academy has trained 18 sets, producing some of Nigeria’s current top filmmakers.
Beyond media and training, she expanded her brand with EbonyLife Place, a luxury destination in Lagos combining a cinema, fine dining, an events hall, and meeting rooms under one roof.
Her impact has been the subject of study at Harvard Business School, and her strategies are often compared with those of top global CEOs like Elon Musk and Warren Buffett. Sought after for her knowledge, Mo Abudu has graced speaking stages at institutions such as Harvard, Cambridge, Wharton, and NYU. She has received numerous accolades, including recognition by Forbes as one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
At the heart of her journey, Mo Abudu places God first. While she often says her dreams are big, so big they sometimes scare her, she continues to thrive with her guiding principles: People, Strategy, Resources, and Execution, proving that African women can succeed on any global stage.