Mo Abudu At 60: How Nollywood celebrated beloved media mogul

Garlands from home and abroad are still pouring in for the world-class producer with the most and the Amazon of the Nigerian motion picture space, Abudu, popularly known as Mo Abudu. The show hostess, media personality, human resource management consultant, entrepreneur and venture capitalist turned 60 on September 11, and since then, it has been a rain of congratulatory messages for the production force behind highly successful and critically acclaimed movie productions such as, The Wedding Party, Fifty and Death and the King’s Horseman. Indeed, messages have continued to pour in for the media and creative entrepreneur of the highest order whose passion for story telling is glaringly boundless.

Fans, colleagues both young and old, friends, contemporaries and family members of the queen of performance art all took to their various social media handle to eulogise the recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), who has exhibited total commitment to excellence and has continued to win the hearts of viewers around the world with quality productions that have come from her media outfit-Ebonylife TV and Ebonylife, which the amazon set up to create positive narrative around and about Nigeria and Africa. Before the rain of congratulatory messages, the award winning creative took to her social media handles to share some gorgeous images to mark her special day.

An intense and busy producer and later day film director, Abudu launched EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first global black entertainment and lifestyle network in 2013 with the primary goal of creating a more positive narrative around Africa. What followed was a string of inspirational series like The Governor, about Nigeria’s first female state governor; Desperate Housewives Africa, based on Disney’s original series; Sons of the Caliphate, a drama about the rivalry between rich and powerful families in northern Nigeria and Castle & Castle, Africa’s first premium legal series among others.

Listed by New African Magazine as one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2013, Abudu is the production force behind highly successful and critically acclaimed movie productions such as Royal Hibiscus Hotel, which screened at Toronto International Film Festival, Oloture and the epic movie, Elesin Oba (King’s Horseman) an adaptation of one of Wole Soyinka’s most performed plays, Death and The King’s Horseman, as directed by Biyi Bandele, and which screened at the 2022 edition of the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Indeed, all the movies that Mo Abudu has signed as executive producer have raised the stakes cinematically and box office wise. In fact, it is widely believed that any movie that Abudu signs as executive producer turns gold. For instance, Fifty, which she executive produced was Nigeria’s highest-grossing drama and number one film in 2015. Similarly, the sequel to the highly successful Wedding Party, titled, The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai, which she executive produced, is regarded as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time.

Described at a time by CNN as ‘Africa’s Queen of Media’ who conquered the continent, Abudu oversees all five divisions of EbonyLife Media, which includes EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films, EbonyLife ON, EbonyLife Studios, and EbonyLife Productions Limited (UK) and EbonyLife Place.

An alumnus of the Ridgeway School, Mid Kent College, and West Kent College and the University of Westminster in London, where she earned her MA in Human Resources Development, Abudu received an honorary doctorate degree (Honouris Causa) from Babcock University in 2018, the University of Westminster also awarded Mo an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts, in recognition of her outstanding services to broadcasting and enterprise in Nigeria among other awards, appointments and recognitions.

Moviedom shares some of the goodwill messages as our special birthday shout out to the iconoclastic creative.

Actress Dakore Egbuson
“Glory be to God for your life Lady Mo, the trail blazer extraordinaire. Lots of love to you on your milestone, 60th birthday and always.”

Actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, MFR
“You are truly so golden. Happy 60th birthday to my Ondo sister, Mo Abudu (Iyei). You are intelligent, a gogetter, a great support system, very expressive but willing to see another perspective. You are blessed with a great family, career and good looks. What’s not to love. Praying for even more wisdom, good health and long life to enjoy it all for you. Enjoy sis. Love you.”

Actress Omowunmi Dada
‘Sixty and sizzling. Happy 60th to my amazon, Mo Abudu. Today, I celebrate an extraordinary powerhouse of purpose, passion and success. You have redefined what it means to be visionary, inspiring countless women to dream big and achieve greatness. Your brilliance and determination have made you a true queen, sharing African stories with the world. May this year be filled with even greater blessings, new horizon and continued success. Here is to many more years of magic. Love you so much mama.”

Actress Kate Henshaw
Happy 60th birthday, big sis, Mo Abudu. Congratulations on reaching this milestone birthday with grace and poise. Thanking God for His mercy and favour over you because He alone made it possible for you to see this day. May you continue to inspire and uplift everyone around you. Wishing you a truly unforgettable birthday and cheers to many more years in good health, abundance and wellness.”

Actor Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD)
“My King Mo. Woman King. Happy birthday. From over 30 years ago when our paths crossed and still counting, you have never dropped the ball in anything you do. You are a queen and like the Genz’s will say, you ate 60. It has nothing on you. Let me conclude like the Warri boy I am, your steeze dey throw am like water. Clear road for Mo abeg, happy birthday King.

Actor, Director Ramsey Nouah Jnr
“Happy birthday Mo Abudu. Sixty? More like 30s. Cheers to more years of creating new landmarks and pioneering new frontiers in African cinema.”

Actress, Director Funke Akindele:
Happy 60th birthday to an ageless beauty and a trailblazer in every sense. You are not only a pacesetter in the movie industry, but a testament to the power of dedication and hard work. Your encouragement and push helped me find my voice as a film director and I am forever grateful. Here is to many years of breaking ground, achieving greatness and supporting each other’s dreams. Cheers to a true goal getter. May you live oner in good wealth and health ma’’.