Mo Abudu @ 62

At 62, Mo Abudu is not simply celebrating another birthday. She is celebrating a remarkable journey of ambition, resilience, creativity and an unwavering belief in the power of African stories.

From corporate boardrooms to television studios, from Moments with Mo to EbonyLife, and from Nigerian cinema to global partnerships with some of the world’s biggest entertainment companies, Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu has built a career around one powerful idea, Africa deserves to tell its own stories to the world.

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Today, September 11, 2026, the Nigerian media entrepreneur, filmmaker and founder of the EbonyLife Group turns 62, marking another milestone in a career that has transformed the African media landscape.

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From Human Resources to Media Powerhouse

Mo Abudu’s journey did not begin in television. Born in Hammersmith, West London, on September 11, 1964, Abudu spent part of her childhood in Nigeria before returning to England at the age of 11. She later built a career in human resources, working in the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria, where she eventually became head of HR and Administration at ExxonMobil.

It was a successful corporate career, but Abudu had something bigger in mind. She eventually left the corporate world and established Vic Lawrence & Associates, a human resources development company, before making the bold transition into media.

That decision would change the course of her life.

The Woman Behind “Moments with Mo”

Before EbonyLife became the global brand it is today, there was Moments with Mo.

The talk show, which began airing in 2006, gave Abudu a platform to have conversations about lifestyle, culture, politics, health, entertainment and society. Her guests included prominent figures from Nigeria and around the world.

But the significance of Moments with Mo went beyond television ratings. It demonstrated that African conversations could be packaged, produced and distributed for audiences across the continent. And Abudu was only getting started.

Building EbonyLife

In 2013, Abudu launched EbonyLife TV, which her official biography describes as Africa’s first global Black entertainment and lifestyle network. Her ambition was clear, create content that could present a more positive and sophisticated narrative about Africa while reaching audiences beyond the continent. The gamble paid off.

Over the years, EbonyLife developed into a much larger media ecosystem, encompassing television, film, digital content, training and entertainment experiences.

Forbes describes Abudu as one of the most powerful women in global media and notes that EbonyLife TV expanded across more than 49 countries in Africa, as well as the United Kingdom and Caribbean.

From Television to the Big Screen

Abudu did not stop at television. In 2014, she established EbonyLife Films, expanding her storytelling ambitions into cinema. The company became associated with commercially successful Nigerian productions including Fifty, The Wedding Party, Chief Daddy, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel and Your Excellency.

Her work also moved into more socially conscious storytelling. Òlòtūré, for example, tackled human trafficking and later premiered globally as a Netflix Original in 2020.

That ability to combine entertainment with stories that speak to important African realities has remained central to Abudu’s creative philosophy.

Taking African Stories to the World

Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of Mo Abudu’s career is the number of international relationships she has built. EbonyLife has worked with major international entertainment companies including Sony Pictures Television, Netflix, AMC Networks, BBC Studios, Westbrook Studios and Lionsgate. The Netflix agreement was particularly significant, becoming the first multi title film and television deal between an African media company and the streaming giant.

Her influence has continued to grow. In 2025, TIME named Mo Abudu one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, with actor and filmmaker Idris Elba writing the tribute. Elba described her as a force in African filmmaking whose determination and ability to get things done have helped shape the continent’s creative landscape.

That recognition says something important about how far her work has travelled. Mo Abudu is no longer simply a Nigerian media executive. She is a global African storyteller.

Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation

Another important part of Abudu’s legacy is her investment in the next generation of African creatives. In 2021, the EbonyLife Group partnered with the Lagos State Government to establish the EbonyLife Creative Academy, providing practical training in filmmaking and media production. The initiative was designed to help both emerging and established Nigerian film professionals develop skills that could compete internationally.

It is an important distinction. Mo Abudu has not only built platforms for herself. She has also worked to create platforms through which other Africans can tell their own stories.

A Legacy Still Being Written

At 62, Abudu’s story is clearly not finished. Her current ambitions extend beyond Nigeria. She is developing EbonyLife Place London, a proposed hub for African cinema, fashion, art, dining and performance, while also working to raise a $50 million Afro Film Fund aimed at supporting African filmmakers.

She has also continued to work on major film projects. Her recent production work includes Dust to Dreams, directed by Idris Elba, while EbonyLife projects continue to pursue international festival and distribution opportunities.

That may be the most fascinating thing about celebrating Mo Abudu at 62. There is no sense that the story is winding down. If anything, another chapter appears to be beginning.

Happy 62nd Birthday, Mo Abudu

Mo Abudu’s journey is a reminder that sometimes the biggest career move is the one that looks most uncertain at the beginning. She left a successful corporate career. She entered television. She built a network, she moved into film, she created training platforms, she built entertainment spaces. She also forged relationships with global studios and streaming companies and through it all, one idea has remained constant, African stories belong on the biggest stages in the world.

Today, as she celebrates her 62nd birthday, Nigeria and the African creative industry have plenty to celebrate with her. Not simply the number. Not simply the awards, but the vision, courage and persistence behind the journey.

Happy 62nd birthday to Mo Abudu, a woman who did not just enter the African media industry, she helped reshape it.