Media entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, has urged Nigerian and African creatives to focus on building sustainable local streaming platforms following reports of reduced investment by foreign platforms on the continent.
Abudu made the call in a post shared on her Instagram page on Thursday, stressing that Africans must take responsibility for developing platforms that cater to their own market.
Her reaction follows reports that Canal+ is considering shutting down the streaming service Showmax as part of cost-cutting measures after its acquisition of MultiChoice, according to an exclusive report by Variety.
“No one is coming to save us. It’s up to us to build sustainable business model that truly works for our market,” she said.
The founder of EbonyLife Group noted that while some international platforms are scaling back their investments, indigenous streaming services are still at an early stage 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 we can grow and strengthen our platforms. We understand that it is a long journey and we are prepared for the work and patience it requires.”
Abudu also highlighted Africa’s cultural richness and storytelling heritage, describing it as a strong foundation 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.”
Expressing optimism, she described the moment 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.”
The PUNCH