Mo Abudu calls on Nigerians to create their own streaming services, emphasizing that external help is not on the horizon.

Media entrepreneur Mo Abudu, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Group, is calling on Nigerian and African creatives to shift their focus towards establishing sustainable local streaming platforms, in light of reports that foreign platforms are reducing their investments on the continent.

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Abudu made this plea in a post on her Instagram page on Thursday, emphasizing the need for Africans to take charge of developing platforms that cater specifically to their own market.

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Her comments come on the heels of reports that Canal+ is considering discontinuing the streaming service Showmax as part of its cost-cutting measures, following the acquisition of MultiChoice, as revealed in an exclusive report by Variety.

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Abudu stressed that Africans must take responsibility for their own market, stating "No one is coming to save us, it's up to us to build sustainable business models that truly work for our market."

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The founder of EbonyLife Group noted that while international platforms are scaling back their investments, indigenous streaming services are still in their early stages and require patience to grow and mature.

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Abudu stated "It's still very early days for the new indigenous Nigerian streaming platforms that have launched recently, and at EbonyLife ON Plus, we are committed to doing all we can to grow and strengthen our platforms."

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She acknowledged that building a strong platform will be a long journey, but expressed her team's readiness to put in the work and patience required.

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Abudu also highlighted the rich cultural heritage and storytelling tradition of Africa, describing it as a solid foundation for the growth of the continent's entertainment industry.

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She described Africa as "a continent rich in culture, tradition and powerful stories," and urged creatives to learn from global success stories, adapt what works, and create their own pathways.

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Expressing optimism about the future, Abudu stated "I truly believe we are capable of this, the future is in our hands, let us build it with confidence, collaboration and belief."

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Abudu views the current moment as an opportunity rather than a setback, saying "Personally, I see this as an opportunity rather than a challenge, Local for Local, Local for Global."