Cape Town – M-Net’s managing director for special projects at M-Net Africa, Biola Alabi, is leaving the pay-TV broadcaster with M-Net finally confirming her exit more than a month after speculation first started.
After reports in March that Alabi is leaving, which she flat-out denied in an afternoon press conference on the day of the 2nd AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Awards, M-Net has announced that Biola is indeed leaving the pay-TV broadcaster.
Alabi is going to study at Yale University for five months and won’t be returning to M-Net afterwards.
"After her Yale fellowship, Alabi will pursue new career opportunities," says M-Net in a statement.
"We wish her every success in what will certainly be a glittering career," says M-Net Sub-Saharan CEO Patricia van Rooyen in the statement.
Alabi joined M-Net in 2008. Her job focus changed at the beginning of 2014 when her job title was amended to that of M-Net Africa managing director for special projects.
In this capacity she was tasked to look after projects such as the AfricaMagic Viewers' Choice Awards, reality productions such as Big Brother Africa and the AfricaMagic Original Films project.
During Alabi's tenure at M-Net she oversaw the launch of the AfricaMagic Hausa, AfricaMagic Yoruba and AfricaMagic Swahili TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv and the expansion of the AfricaMagic brand to eight TV channels.
She also presided over four editions of the reality show Big Brother Africa, as well as the Face of Africa model reality show in 2010.