20 October 2007
interview
Lagos — A dream is often unfamiliar territory for us - whether the ones we have while sleeping or the ones we nurse during our waking moments and hope to someday actualise. They are often made up of things we cannot quite understand and are not quite sure we can achieve and sometimes, fear prevails and people decide to stay within the safety of their comfort zone. But one lady would not be bound by this conventional, pedestrian limitation. She dared....and triumphed!
Mo Abudu, entrepreneur and HR consultant, has decided to stretch beyond a terrain that she is familiar with or known for, moving into an area she has never worked in before - the area of television. As she commences this journey, we see passion, creativity and hope that it will be a success and she acts as a role model to those who have similar journeys to take or a conduit to those who have successfully taken their journeys, using the medium of a talk show to reach, encourage and highlight them.
She has decided to speak to the secret wishes of many dreamers and awaken them to act. She wishes to see the story of her own life and successes replicated by ordinary humans as she once was. She shares her dream-driven life's secrets and more with Shaka Momodu...
We've been hearing rumours and stories about this talk show for months now? It's finally going to air. Why has it taken so long for people to see this show?
I guess it's because I'm what some people might call a perfectionist. I knew what sort of brand I was trying to create and what I wanted to do with it in the long run. I wanted my production values to be first class and I was not willing to compromise. I wanted to create a talk show that could stand on its own against any other show anywhere in the world- whether in terms of production value or content.
But why a talk show? What made you decide to step in front of the cameras after being in business for so long?
The talk show, which is called Moments with Mo is only one, only the first step in a multi-layered project that is supposed to be all about the new Africa, the African renaissance. There is so much to the continent of Africa, so much that we have to celebrate as a people that never makes it to the international media. And that will not change until we take charge of the media. That's where the Inspire Africa project comes in. We intend to highlight and celebrate the good of Africa and to provide balanced point of view to those things going on in our continent which might not be quite so commendable. The Western media tends to show only one side to the story, so Inspire Africa and Moments with Mo will be a voice for Africa to be heard around the world.
Why did you call the show Moments with Mo?
Well, I'm sure one of the reasons is pretty obvious. Moments is a play on my name, Mo. But apart from that, moments are little measures of time that make up the lives of people. There are so many people around Nigeria and Africa who are having so many different experiences from moment to moment- moments of joy and sorrow, moments of celebration and regret. The aim of the show is to get people- from celebrities to everyday people: exceptional experiences- to share those moments, those experiences, with us. Through that we hope to inform, inspire and empower the whole of Africa.
Who are some of the guests on the show, and what are some of the topics you treat?
We have had a wide variety of guests on the show within this first season alone. We have had premier achievers in their respective fields- star actors and actresses, footballers and TV personalities, musicians and artists, reality show stars and real people. We are talking to people from several different fields- business, the arts, science, politics, sports, show business etc. We have also had people who have had the bravery to share their pain and experiences, their private moments with us. People talk with us about their pain and heartbreak, their losses and gains. All this from a uniquely African point of view.
You keep talking about this Pan African vision you have for this project. Just how much of Africa does your show involve?
Well, for starters, the show is being broadcast in 44 countries around Africa on MNet Channel 3 from November 7. So we will be reaching people from all over the continent and once the show starts to broadcast in November, we will be speaking with them as well. As it is, we are already planning for guests from other countries in Africa and in the Diaspora as we prepare for our second season which we will begin broadcasting soon. It's a process but I have every confidence that within a year Inspire Africa and Moments with Mo will be brands that every African, wherever they may be in the world, will readily identify with.
Tell us about this launch you're planning. What's it all about?
The launch is a way of officially announcing to the world that Moments with Mo is here, to get everyone to take notice. It's going to be held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island on the 27th of October. It's strictly by invitation and will be a red carpet event that is meant to give people an idea of what they are in for. We will have special guests from the first season, we will have clips of the show and there will be a special live music performance by Angie Stone, supported by our own Nigerian acts, Timi Dakolo and Temitayo George.
What made you feel you would be an appropriate host for a talk show?
This project has been a dream of mine for a long time. I feel very passionate about it and I have the sort of personality that means I feel the need to be in control of the project to make sure my vision is actualized accurately. I am seen by some as an 'evangelist for accomplishment' and that belief, that 'yes I can' attitude is what I hope to communicate to Africans. Having said that, experience has taught me that hosting a talk show is a lot more challenging than one might originally think. There is so much to take in and consider at any given point in time, especially with a tight shooting schedule like the one we had. You have to brush up on the topic you will be discussing beforehand, get all the information you need on the guests, at the same time deal with stage fright, worrying about your appearance, trying to connect with the guests, getting their story out of them, asking them the right questions. And of course, in television things can go wrong at any given point in time and you have to go scrambling for solutions at the last minute. We were doing all this and shooting two to three episodes a day. It's pretty nerve-wracking but it's also exciting.
How were you able to handle all that and still be the executive producer of the project?
The producing was actually the easier part of the job for me. It involved things I'm used to- deadlines and timelines, schedules and spreadsheets, hiring and firing. With that hat on, I feel more in control, unlike in hosting the show where things are likely to change at any given second.
Some people have compared you and your show to Oprah. How do you feel about that?
It's great to be compared to Oprah. It's great to be compared to anyone who has been able to come from so little and grow to achieve so much. It's the perfect embodiment of my philosophy about life. At the same time, I think all human beings are unique and what I hope to bring to this show is my own unique personality. I'm a strong, forceful, determined woman who has made mistakes and is willing to admit to them if they will help me in growing emotionally and spiritually. I know I'm not perfect- both as a host and as a human being. I just hope my viewers will be patient with me as we go on this journey of discovery together. I think I have many experiences in common with citizens of Nigeria, people in Africa, women around the world. We are all unified by our experiences and moments and I hope that in sharing mine and in sharing those of my guests we will all emerge stronger. And that's why I think Moments is a show worth watching, even if I say so myself.
What was it like facing the camera for a talk show?
It was nerve wrecking, I had stage fright, I sometimes forgot what I was going to say and found that I was saved by the bell, with divine inspiration. Dealing with different types of personalities also comes with its own challenges as well as the topics. As we cover a range of topics and moments in the lives of people.
How did you overcome your shyness?
I don't know how you gathered I am shy, but truly I am shy, I just do well at hiding it pretty well. I have a fighting spirit, so I do my best to overcome whatever I consider a challenge. Overcoming shyness is one of them. So a project like this helps me achieve that.
Mo is known for being an entrepreneur and a HR Consultant, crossing over, did you discover you could do it or was it just a daring spirit?
It was just a daring spirit, yep, I have one of those. Try the impossible, make it possible.
Dreams just don't come true, who has helped you realize your dream?
I call Inspire Africa and Moments my God given vision. So I truly believe that its not by by might, I'll say it now, I'll say it any day, any time, it's by Gods Grace. Its by His divine favour that this project is where it is. I obviously have a lot of special people to thank. My children for their patience. My Headline sponsors which includes MTN and Skye Bank. Other major sponsors that include Virgin Nigeria, The Protea Hotel Oakwood Park, VLA, Nextzon, Avis, BRAS Motors that has donated a brand new car to our Winning Moments raffle draw, my designers that clothed me for the show, which include Deola Sagoe, Tiffany Amber, Odion Mimonet, Designers Club, Jewel by Lisa, Davida Shirts and I must not forget Kohar Jewellery, Virtual Exchange my marketing consultants and the Moments Content and Production Team.
I have had a great first season with beautiful and wonderful guests and I thank them all.
Who is yout best dinner guest?
My best dinner guest is my soulmate.
What can you never be caught without in your handbag as a business woman?
Cell phone, I value my more than my credit card, because my cellphone is money. I don't forget, it is always with me.
You are already successful, what more do you want?
I am not anywhere near where I want to be. I want to make a billion naira and then dash it all to people. I want to do more and more.
How have you been able to manage success?
I take it easy as it come.
What would you do if you were left in the desert all alone?
I will pray and I will write a book.
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