Mo Abudu calls on Nigerians to create their own streaming services, saying no external help is on the way

Mo Abudu, a renowned media entrepreneur and CEO 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 investors are scaling back their investments on the continent. In a post shared on her Instagram page on Thursday, Abudu emphasized the importance of Africans taking charge of developing platforms that cater specifically to their own market. This comes after an exclusive report by Variety revealed that Canal+ is considering discontinuing the streaming service Showmax, following its acquisition of MultiChoice, as part of broader cost-cutting efforts. According to Abudu, "No one is coming to save us. It's up to us to build sustainable business models that truly work for our market." The EbonyLife Group founder acknowledged that while international platforms are reducing their investments, indigenous streaming services are still in their early stages and require time to mature. "It's still very early days for the new indigenous Nigerian streaming platforms that have launched recently," she noted, adding that "At EbonyLife ON Plus, we are committed to doing all we can to grow and strengthen our platforms, understanding that it is a long journey and we are prepared for the work and patience it requires." Abudu also underscored the vast cultural and storytelling heritage of Africa, describing it as a solid foundation for the growth of the continent's entertainment industry. "We are a continent rich in culture, tradition, and powerful stories," she said, "We must learn from global success stories, adapt what works, and create our own pathways because that is exactly what others have done." Abudu expressed optimism about the future, viewing the current situation as an opportunity rather than a setback. "I truly believe we are capable of this," she stated, "The future is in our hands. Let us build it with confidence, collaboration, and belief. Personally, I see this as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Local for Local. Local for Global."