Mo Abudu celebrates 20 years of building a media and hospitality empire from age 40, encouraging women to dream big and highlighting key milestones like EbonyLife TV and EbonyLife Place London
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]enowned Nigerian media mogul and entrepreneur, Mo Abudu, has shared a powerful message of empowerment and perseverance, celebrating 20 years since she embarked on her impactful journey in the hospitality and media industries.
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In a heartfelt social media post, Abudu emphasized that her story, far from being boastful, is a testament to boldness and the inherent right of women to pursue big dreams, regardless of age.
Abudu revealed that she began her ventures at 40 years old, with no prior experience but driven by immense passion, purpose, and faith. Over the past two decades, her relentless dedication has led to a remarkable unfolding of milestones:
Key Milestones in Mo Abudu’s Two-Decade Journey:
At 40: Launched Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, Nigeria’s first purpose-built Protea Hotel. Simultaneously, she birthed Moments with Mo, Africa’s pioneering daily syndicated talk show, which grew into a franchise, including “Moments” and “Moments Z,” featuring co-hosts across the continent.
Too often, we women downplay our journeys. But it’s your birthright to dream big — at any age.
At 49: Launched EbonyLife TV, a ground-breaking Black global channel from Nigeria, responsible for creating culture-shaping shows such as The Spot, EL Now, The Governor, Castle & Castle, Ojo’s in the House, and Desperate Housewives Africa.
At 50: Founded EbonyLife Films, which debuted with FIFTY and went on to produce blockbusters like The Wedding Party, Chief Daddy, Your Excellency, Oloture, and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel.
At 53: Established EbonyLife Place Lagos, Nigeria’s first luxury entertainment resort, housing The White Orchid Hotel, Turaka, Jinja, and EbonyLife Cinemas.
At 56: Launched EbonyLife Creative Academy, dedicated to empowering the next generation of storytellers with world-class film and acting courses.
At 58: Ventured into directing with Mo Abudu Films, writing and directing Her Perfect Life and Iyawo Mi. Both films garnered significant acclaim, earning Oscar considerations and being official selections at prestigious festivals like Cannes Short Film Corner, HollyShorts, and Martha’s Vineyard.
At 60: Expanded internationally with EbonyLife Place London, the UK’s first African cinema and a creative hub celebrating African film, fashion, food, and culture.
Reflecting on her journey, Abudu stated, “Every chapter was a leap of faith. And by His special grace — I’m not done yet. There’s still so much more to come.”
Challenging conventional wisdom, she shared her personal philosophy: “They say life begins at 40… and maybe it does. But if you ask me — it really kicks into gear at 60.”
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Her inspiring message concluded with a powerful call to action for women: “Be bold. Be relentless. Be obsessed with your vision, build the right teams and never forget — God is your X factor.”
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
