Mo Abudu, the CEO of EbonyLife Group, has been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most powerful people in the world.
The most influential people in the world are recognized for their contributions, creativity, and accomplishments.
Abudu was chosen for his films, television shows, and media contributions.
It’s humbling and inspiring to be given the TIME100 name. It serves as a reminder that African stories have a place on the global stage, she said of the award.
Every creative, entrepreneur, and changemaker who dares to dream big, deserves this honor. I’m eternally grateful to my amazing team, my family, friends, and allies who have remained positive throughout this journey. My passion is fueled by their unwavering support.
This recognition strengthens my resolve to keep creating platforms that amplify African voices, shift narratives, and inspire the next generation of creatives to shape the future as I continue to push boundaries with bold initiatives. ”
Also Read: Idris Elba and Mo Abudu Work on the short film ‘Dust To Dreams, a Nigerian film.
Idris Elba, whose Greendoor Pictures collaborated with Mo Abudu to promote and advance talent from Africa and its diaspora through the creation of new TV and film projects, was invited to speak out about Abudu, saying: “Mo Abudu’s reputation precedes her. Anyone with experience with African film knows about her. Before I reached out to her two years ago, I had been a fan of her work for a while.
We were developing a collaboration plan for a movie about to be known as Dust to Dreams pretty quickly. That is the beauty of Mo: she wastes no time. She is adamant about doing things and has the willpower to overcome any challenge. Her expansive empire, which includes cinemas, productions, studios, and an artistic academy, is a testament to that.
Comedian Nate Bargatze, one of the United States’ most successful stand-ups, will host this year’s Emmy Awards, organisers said Wednesday.
The funnyman is being handed the reins of television’s most prestigious prize show for its 77th edition, which takes place in Los Angeles in September and will be broadcast on US network CBS.
“It’s a huge honour to be asked to host such an iconic awards show, and I’m beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world,” Bargatze said in a statement.
Last year’s show was hosted by the well-received father-and-son pairing of Eugene and Dan Levy, for an evening that saw a boost in viewing figures compared with previous editions.
The Television Academy, which hands out the prizes, will be hoping that Bargatze’s growing popularity and everyman persona will add to the show’s appeal.
“Nate is one of the hottest comics in the business with a remarkable and hilarious brand of comedy that deeply resonates with multi-generational audiences around the globe,” Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said.
“We are thrilled to be able to leverage his one-of-a-kind perspective to entertain TV fans watching this year’s Emmy telecast.”
Bargatze is on something of a career roll, playing to sell-out audiences in the United States and seeing success around the world through his Netflix specials.
Nigerian chess champion and social entrepreneur, Tunde Onakoya, is set to challenge a new Guinness World Record with a 70-hour chess marathon in New York’s Times Square — and this time, he is not alone.
In a video posted on Instagram on Tuesday, the 30-year-old founder of Chess in Slums Africa, announced his ambitious goal, alongside five children from disadvantaged communities in Nigeria.
“I’m back here in this very moment that started last year in Times Square,” he said. “We played chess for 60 hours. We pushed the limits of the human mind and gave the world something new to believe in.”
The 30-year-old, who gained global recognition in April 2024 for completing a 60-hour chess marathon with U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez, revealed that his upcoming attempt is not just about records.
READ ALSO: ‘We Have Done It’: Chess Master Tunde Onakoya Breaks World Record, Hits 60 Hours
“Your support helped us build an innovation hub in Lagos, Nigeria, and support the education of thousands of children across Africa. Now I’m back—but this time, I’m not alone. I’m here with five incredible children from Nigeria, who have come from the slums—against all odds—to become champions here.”
“From winning tournaments in Athens, Georgia, to speaking at the United Nations, and winning the gold medal at the United Nations Chess Championship, they (five slum children) have truly shown us that talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t.”
Photo: X @Tunde Onakoya on X
The new attempt is scheduled to run from April 17 to 20, 2025. Onakoya and Martinez aim to surpass the current chess marathon record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by two Norwegian players in June 2024.
“So now we’re in the endgame. There’s a new world record set by two Norwegian players. And on the 17th of April, 2025, I, along with U.S. National Master Shawn Martinez will be breaking that record—and setting a new one for 70 hours.”
The five children, he said, will also participate in the event for a few hours each day. He extended an open invitation to local players in New York.
“This is an open call to every chess player in New York City: if you think you’re good enough to challenge them, we invite you to come play them.”
For Million Dreams
More than a personal feat, Onakoya explained the deeper mission behind the challenge.
“We’re not just doing this for ourselves—we’re doing it for a million dreams. We want to build the biggest preschool in Africa for homeless children.
“The hardest part isn’t staying awake for three days—because a million dreams will do that. But now, more than ever, we need everyone’s support. If you’re in New York, show up at Times Square. Come support us. Help us inspire the world and show the world that it is indeed possible to do great things from a small place.”
In a tweet posted earlier on Saturday via social platform X (formerly Twitter), Onakoya reinforced his commitment.
Photo: X @Tunde Onakoya on X
“My dream is to inspire the world and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria,” he wrote.
The non-profit chess organisation The Gift of Chess, a partner in this initiative, also confirmed the challenge.
“Starting April 17th, Tunde_OD & CoachShawnMar will attempt 70 hours of non-stop chess in the heart of Times Square, NYC,” the organisation said in a post. “They are aiming to break their previous record of 60 hours and surpass the current GWR record set by two Norwegians.”
Previous Attempt
In April 2024, Onakoya and Martinez had broken the previous Guinness World Record of 56 hours — held since 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad — after completing a 60-hour game marathon. However, their triumph was short-lived, with the new 61-hour benchmark being established just two months later.
During his record-setting performance in 2024, New York’s Nigerian community turned out in force, offering traditional meals like jollof rice and energetic music to sustain him. Nigerian superstar Davido also publicly supported him and presented him with a 30BG chain.
Top political figures have praised his efforts. Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, lauded him, stating that his feat was a symbol of “excellence and resilience that distinguishes Nigerians both locally and internationally.” Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also highlighted that the attempt was “a strong testimony to how greatness can come from anywhere.”
That initial effort, which doubled as a $1 million fundraising campaign, helped elevate Onakoya’s Chess in Slums Africa initiative — a movement he says has provided education and lifelong scholarships to over 200 children across Nigeria. The funds raised were also used to distribute one million chess sets to impoverished communities, in partnership with The Gift of Chess.
In a January 2024 interview with Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Onakoya said growing up in poverty taught him empathy because the real pain wasn’t just lacking money, but being cut off from things like education and justice. He said this experience drives his passion to help others, adding that he wants to be the kind of person he needed when he was younger.
Onakoya, a self-taught chess master, learnt the game in a barber’s shop. Raised in modest circumstances by a mother who worked as a cleaner to support his education, he went on to study computer science at Yaba College of Technology.
Throughout his journey, the Lagos-born chess champion has received national and international acclaim. Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun appointed him in April 2024 as the state’s sports ambassador and likened his cause to that of millions of youths in Nigeria who are struggling to make something out of their lives.
Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing entertainment and media (E&M) sectors globally, with Nollywood and the music industry leading. It has a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6% and it’s expected to grow with the various forms of technology boosting its accessibility.
The entertainment industry in Nigeria has embraced digital technologies similar to other businesses, and they enjoy the convenience that comes with it. An example of an industry fully embracing digitisation is online gaming platforms such as live88.io.
Additionally, the Copyright Act of 2022 aims to protect all digital works. It tackles piracy and ensures the work aligns with global best practices. Nollywood also ranks as the second most productive in the world, with an estimated 2,500 movies released every year.
The music sector is also diverse and represented internationally by artists such as Davido and Wizkid through addictive sounds known as afrobeats, hip-hop and afro-fusion.
Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) estimates that the Nigerian E&M industry will generate around 12.1 billion Euros in revenue by the end of 2025. Already by 2023, the entertainment industry had contributed around 96 million euros to Nigeria’s GDP.
Possible Directions in 2025
The Nigerian entertainment industry has witnessed exponential growth in the last decade. Here are some factors that are likely to contribute to and continue the growth in investment in 2025 and beyond.
1. Better Mobile Services In Africa, entertainment and media are driven by mobile services due to the low penetration of broadband. To sustain connectivity, there must be an expansion of 4G and 5G networks.
It’s expected that by 2026, 4G will overtake the 3G network in Nigeria. Social video is the main growth driver in the video sector through platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
In Nigeria gaming is also taking a significant portion of data. Online gaming has grown over the years as we see some of the finest gaming platforms using the most sophisticated online blackjack software. The shift towards mobile and digital platforms has been widely embraced in Africa.
2. Growth in Binge-Worthy Entertainment There has been a rise in the popularity of platforms such as YouTube with some series and movies. Platforms such as YouTube offer viewers some free web-based content, and there’s likely to be more fresh content coming from these platforms with short films and series for people to enjoy.
These platforms are likely to become more popular as they allow new content creators to bypass the traditional systems by connecting with viewers directly.
In 2025, binge-worthy entertainment will continue to grow as people enjoy the diversity these platforms provide. Creators also no longer have to worry about finding their next big break as they focus on creating global followers to monetize their work.
3. More Diverse Afrobeats Afrobeats are Nigeria’s signature in the music industry. In 2024, they were a great cultural export for artists such as Burna Boy and Tems as they collaborated with some of Hollywood’s best.
In 2025, there’s likely to be more diversification, and the influence of this music will expand. New genres are also likely to be born as more artists around the world infuse Nigerian sounds into their music.
These collaborations will give rise to creative freedom, meaning more flexible contracts will be needed to ensure record labels stay in business.
4. Global Collides with Local Local has become the new global as we see some Nigerian films trending globally and also on platforms such as Netflix. People are likely to enjoy more films that are rooted in Nigerian culture as they learn all about it. More platforms, such as Showmax, are likely to invest in localised Nigerian stories to share with the rest of the world.
Platforms are likely to invest as they enjoy the authenticity of the productions depicting Nigerian culture. They’re likely to be producers negotiating terms that maximise royalties for creators. Creators will also work with international consultants to refine their storytelling for a more global appeal.
5. The Combo: Entertainment and Web3 In 2024, blockchain technology and NFTs gained popularity, and there’s likely to be a much wider adoption of these two. These systems can be used to ticket concerts or even create exclusive content. Web3 can empower entertainers to bypass traditional Gatekeepers to connect directly with their fans.
Since the legal framework of these is still unclear as the technologies evolve, lawyers will be tasked with drafting agreements that can cover any revenue streams generated.
6. An Evolution in the Influencer Brands will prefer to work with creators with values that align with their companies. This means that the brand should focus on quality rather than quantity to avoid cases of public backlash.
Such partnerships will be approached with caution by most investors to ensure all ethical guidelines are followed. This means they will focus on ensuring that these campaigns enhance both the brand and the influencer.
7. Bigger and Better Live Experiences Live concerts are likely to be bigger, more tech driven and highly massive. These concepts are likely to use technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to create real-time audience participation.
Some of the biggest artists are likely to be sold out in seconds, considering that people can use technology to purchase their tickets. On the other hand, platforms such as Spotify have had high numbers of people streaming and it’s reported the highest record being Nigerian artists.
8. A Growth in Internet Advertising Advertising is an essential element for any industry. Internet advertising has become exceptionally popular in Nigeria due to the increased internet accessibility and digital platform adoption. This trend is also likely to grow within the entertainment industry.
Internet advertising is likely to lead, with ad spend that’s already accounting for 68% of total revenue.
FAQs
What is the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the entertainment industry?
Currently, as of 2025, the CAGR of the Nigerian entertainment industry is 8.6%.
What is the estimated amount to be generated by the entertainment industry by 2026?
The entertainment industry is expected to generate around 12.1 billion euros by 2026.
What has driven the growth of the entertainment industry in Nigeria?
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday struck out the defamation suit filed against blogger Martins Otse, also known as Verydarkblackman (VDM).
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana; and his son, Folarin popularly known as Falz; had filed the defamation suit against VDM following the comments and video he published on September 24, 2024 on his social media handles and pages.
The Falanas had dragged the defendant before the court in separate suits, claiming N500 million each as damages over a video he posted on his social media platforms alleging that they collected N10 million from Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, to pervert the cause of justice.
COMBO PHOTO of VeryDarkMan (L) and Bobrisky (R)
In their suits, the father and son submitted that the defendant knew all his comments were unverified and not true, yet he proceeded to publish same to injure their reputation recklessly.
READ ALSO: Refund ₦300m Rivers Money Now, Adegboruwa Tells NBA
They also stated that the alleged defamatory publication is still trending on the defendants online handles and pages and as such, the injury to their reputation continues as long as the publication remains online.
When the case was called on Tuesday, Falana, his son, and VDM were absent in court.
However, counsel for the respondent, Niyi Alagbe, holding brief for Marvin Omorogbe, informed the court that he had earlier filed an application for stay of proceeding before Justice Fimisola Azeez.
Counsel for the Falanas, Omotayo Olatunbosun, in his response, informed the court that he received the said application on Monday about 4:15 p.m.
Olatunbosun argued that the matter of the day was the preliminary objection, which he said was ripe for hearing and that the new application was meant to prolong matters.
Olatunbosun urged the judge to proceed with the business of the day.
Justice Matthias Dawodu said the application in question was not in the file and wondered why he was being troubled with the case when the substantive suit was before another court.
Dawodu struck out the suit and held that insistence on going ahead with the suit would be an academic exercise since the substantive suit was before another judge.
French group Hermes overtook LVMH as the world’s most valuable luxury company on Tuesday after shares in the Louis Vuitton maker tumbled following weaker-than-expected quarterly sales.
The market capitalisation of Hermes reached 248.6 billion euros ($280.5 billion) at the close of trading in Paris, topping LVMH’s 244.4 billion euros.
LVMH shares sank 7.8 percent a day after the group owned by Europe’s wealthiest man, Bernard Arnault, reported a two percent drop in first quarter sales to 20.3 billion euros.
The producer of Louis Vuitton bags and Dom Perignon champagne reported a slight decline in US sales, where it generates a quarter of its revenue.
