Media entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, has called on Nigerian and African creatives to prioritise the development of sustainable local streaming platforms amid reports that some foreign services are reducing investments in the continent.
Abudu made the call in a post on her Instagram page on Thursday, stressing that Africans must take responsibility for creating platforms that serve their own market.
Her remarks follow reports that Canal+ is considering shutting down the streaming service Showmax as part of cost-cutting measures after acquiring MultiChoice, according to an exclusive report by Variety.
“No one is coming to save us. It’s up to us to build sustainable business models that truly work for our market,” she said.
The founder of EbonyLife Group noted that although some international platforms are scaling back their investments in Africa, indigenous streaming services are still in their early stages and require patience to grow.
“It’s still very early days for the new indigenous Nigerian streaming platforms that have launched recently. At EbonyLife ON Plus, we are committed to doing what we can to grow and strengthen our platform. We understand that it is a long journey and we are prepared for the work and patience it requires,” she said.
Abudu also highlighted Africa’s rich cultural heritage and storytelling tradition, describing them as strong foundations for the growth of the continent’s entertainment industry.
“We are a continent rich in culture, tradition and powerful stories. We must learn from global success stories, adapt what works, and create our own pathways because that is exactly what others have done,” she added.
Expressing optimism about the future, Abudu described the current situation as an opportunity rather than a setback.
“I truly believe we are capable of this. 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.”
Advertisement