One of Nigeria’s leading television talk-show hostesses and producer, Mosunmola Abudu, popularly known as Mo Abudu, and creator of ‘Moments With Mo’, formally launched her long-awaited cable TV channel that is out to be aired across Africa last Sunday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
The channel, EbonyLife TV, Channel 165, according to her, will serve as Africa’s first global black entertainment network, and will broadcast all of its programming to over 46 African countries via the DSTV platform. Globally, as it is also empowered, it will reach out through key TV Channels in the UK, the United States, Brazil, Canada and other parts of Europe. It is strategically located at Tinapa, Cross-Rivers state, and established with hi-definition equipment in a bid to revamp the digital television culture across the world, particularly in Africa.
The event which attracted the high and mighty from different parts of the world, also witnessed the presence of the Chairman and Editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine, Steve Forbes, Mr Labaran Maku, Minister for Information, Dr. Segun Aganga, Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Culture and Tourism; Chief Edwin Duke, Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke and notable Nollywood and music artistes including Evang. Ebenezer Obey, Dr. Victor Olaiya Tuface Idiabia , Joke Silva and a host of others.
Visibly delighted by the turn out of the invitees, Mo Abudu was full of thanks for everyone and confessed that the ambition to embark on the project spans over ten years. Ebonylife TV, she added, “is God-inspired in view of the content and high definition equipment put in place to sell Nigeria to the outside world,” she concluded.
Guests at the venue were thrilled with duet renditions by the combination of old and new musicians in the house including, Evang Ebenezer Obey and MI (Babe Mi Jowo), Onyeka Owenu and Omawumi (Ekwe), Dr. Victor Olaiya and Tuface, Banky W, Tiwa Salvage and Sunny Ade (If You Love Me)
The highpoint of the event was the award session where the new channel honoured top players in the local industry like Onyeka Owenu, Sir (Dr) Victor Olaiya, Chief Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Tuface Idibia, for their contributions to entertainment industry. A Special Award was also given to President Goodluck Jonathan for his administration’s support to the Nigerian media and entertainment Industry, just like foremost designer Deola Sagoe, was also honoured for her contribution to fashion industry.
Steve Forbes summed the occasion up by commending Mo’Abudu for her efforts to launch a world-class television station. “This gesture is an indication that Africa is ready to launch itself to the world. Mo’Abudu is the first woman to establish a Pan-African television station and we are going to give every support she needs to succeed.”
