Series Mania, Pour les femmes dans les medias (PFDM) and the European Women’s Audiovisual Network (EWA) honoured Mo Abudu with the second annual Woman in Series Award last month to recognise her work and many achievements throughout her career.
The award is given to a remarkable woman from the audiovisual industry each year to acknowledge their trailblazing, vision and leadership. Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife Media and Westminster alumna and Honorary Doctorate, received her prize at a dedicated prize-giving ceremony in Lille on March 22. As part of the Series Mania International Festival, she also spoke at the Dialogues de Lille on 24 March during a panel entitled ‘Investing in Talent: How to Drive New Narratives’.
The Woman in Series Award was launched in 2021 with the mission to increase the visibility of female producers and projects and championing their commitment to the industry.
Mo Abudu kickstarted her career in media as a host and producer of ‘Moments with Mo’, the first pan-African talk show, moving away from her successful careers as a corporate executive and in human resources. Founding EbonyLife TV in 2012, Abudu media organisation grew into a media group which encompasses movie production and a global streaming service.
EbonyLife Media is Nigeria’s premium media conglomerate comprising EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films, EbonyLife Studios, EbonyLife Place and EbonyLife Creative Academy. EbonyLife Media has a mission to create original and inspiring content that showcases a pioneering and progressive Africa. Their content is strongly rooted in Africa and connected to a global audience, with a vision to be the most influential storyteller of a new Africa. While under Abudu’s leadership, EbonyLife Media have worked with several international studios, including Sony, Netflix, BBC Studios and Lionsgate.
Abudu was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts by the University of Westminster in 2018 for her services to broadcasting and enterprise in Nigeria. She is also a Westminster alumna, having completed a Master’s degree in Manpower Studies in 1993.
Talking about receiving the Woman in Series Award, Mo Abudu said: “As an alumna of the University of Westminster, and being acknowledged for my contribution to the Film and TV industry, I’ve been inspired to want to continue spearheading international productions and educational initiatives that will help accelerate African filmmaking.
“Having various co-production deals with global partners garnered me recognition from Series Mania, and receiving their second annual ‘Woman in Series Award’ has encouraged me to keep pushing for change in getting entertaining, powerful and memorable Black and African stories out there for a worldwide audience to enjoy - and in so doing, I hope to inspire other female filmmakers to keep developing great stories.”
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