Mo Abudu; Talk show Hostess, hospitality, entertainment and media entrepreneur. Abudu’s show, Moments with Mo is Africa’s first syndicated talk show to be broadcast on M-Net and it goes out to over 40 countries. Shows are recorded in front of a studio audience with a variety of topics explored. Coming from a professional background of human resource management, Abudu built her own first class, state-of-the-art production studios and an international TV channel EbonyLife TV, which was inaugurated in 2013[i]. Abudu adds glamour to her business, and have been dressed by celebrity designers in Nigeria, including Deola Sagoe, Tiffany Amber, Odion Mimonet, Lanre Da Silva, Jewels by Lisa, and Amede. CNN made Mo Abudu the central figure in a 2016 feature[ii].
Place of Growth
Mo was born in September 1964, in London, to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Akintunde. Her childhood was mainly spent in the United Kingdom where she was raised with her two younger sisters by her mother, following the death of her father in 1975. Mo attended Ridgeway School, and the Mid Kent College.
Education
Mo went to the West Kent College. She went ahead to obtain a masters degree in Human Resources Development at the University of Westminster, London.
Family
Mo was married to Tokunbo, a lawyer, with whom she raised two children.
Travels
Mo began her professional career in the United Kingdom where she had been for most of her life until then. In 1987, she joined the Atlas Recruitment Consultancy firm and within a few years rose to the position of branch manager. In 1990, she was headhunted by Starform Group, a successful UK-based business information concern, to manage the Corporate Credit Management Exhibition. She returned to Nigeria in 1993.
Experience
Abudu was hired in 1993 by Arthur Andersen in Nigeria as Head of Human Resources and Training for Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Exxon. In 2000 she resigned from ExxonMobil to start a private venture, Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited, VLA with which she hoped to harness her growing reputation as a human resources specialist in energizing Nigeria’s talent pool. Abudu’s next significant
achievement was the building of Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, situated along the Lekki Expressway in Lagos, which was commissioned in August 2004. Set on over one hectare of land, the hotel has state-of the-art training, conference and leisure facilities. Abudu’s concept for Oakwood Park was to create a facility with the serenity of a suburban location featuring fully equipped and dedicated training and conference facilities together with the comfort of executive accommodation and leisure.
Accomplishment
Mo engages in community self-improvement efforts through her membership of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievers Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation promoting business skills development among Nigerian youths.
[i] Punch July 10, 2013
[ii] Nation October 22, 2016
