Hello World - First, an Introduction

 

I am elated to be here. I am beside myself with joy actually. This blog has been on my bucket list for the whole of twenty four months. I had wanted to find a holding place, a 'warehouse' for my thoughts and musings. I am trying to rein in myself not to flood this space already with more than a handful. I am truly excited. A Nigerian singer did a song sometime ago, it had this unforgettable hook , 'first of all, introduction', one only had to say, 'first of all', the discerning would complete it with a loud,  often chorused, 'introduction'. 

So then, let me go ahead with a brief introduction of myself and what I do. 

My identity is three fold. I was Funke Treasure Akintoye on Radio Nigeria, until I got married and the surname changed to 'Durodola'. But life happened and I became Anikeade Funke-Treasure on social media, I also adopted it for my books. Anikeade means a lot to me culturally. It speaks to my essence. The previous surname, Akintoye is now prominent in my academic articles. My brand name as a media professional,  'Funke Treasure' has stuck however. It is an important point to make that I am all of these identities and my work spanning these periods are authentically mine. 

My professional life can be simplified into three broad categories: media, leadership and development. I know I said three but there's a fourth one, which is research. I have packed a punch there too.

I am a multi-genre media personality and social entrepreneur in Nigeria. A major player in radio, TV, print media, literature and digital media.  I am a well sought after event compere, never mind that I say so, it's the truth. I am a certified media trainer, facilitator, moderator and speaker. You will find me on multiple platforms offline and online, being a panelist, and media analyst across Nigeria, West Africa and Africa. 

I have mentored scores of broadcasters and journalists in Nigeria, Liberia, Burkina Faso, in partnership with leading media capacity & development organisations. I started a media mentoring initiative in June 2010 for undergraduates, which morphed to accommodate aspiring media professionals in 2013.

I am a writer with diverse interests, I write on my experiences in the different roles and tasks that I perform. I have authored three books, my first, Memories of Grandma, and two others in my Pronunciation Guide Series. To be honest the series grew out of my need to give my clients a manual for their coaching sessions with me.

I have devoted the last six years of my life actively and intensely to being a campaigner and advocate for women and the girl child, with a focus on menstrual health, sexual and gender based violence, sports and governance. I am the Convener of Sanitary Pad Media Campaign (SPMC), a menstrual health advocacy group and the Funke Treasure Table Tennis Championship for girls. In the past, I worked in the HIV/AIDS advocacy space, training journalists on how to report the health situation effectively. You would find me speaking up about maternal mortality, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), or engaging communities and journalists on sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).

In the last four years, I had concentrated on menstrual health and hygiene. I have expended energy on four expressions of it. There's a radio drama, 'My Period, My Pride' which was supported by the McArthur Foundation. It has been airing on Nigerian radio stations since 2023, including Radio Nigeria(FRCN), Africa's largest radio network with a thrilling over 30 radio stations, in one single broadcast.  There's also a podcast, 'My Period Stories' which airs on Africa Magic Family on DStv and GOtv simultaneously, beaming to sub-Saharan Africa weekly. There's an essay competition for girls and a pad scholarship for them too. 

Trust me to sneak all of these into an intro of myself. The truth is if I don't, who will?

I am a researcher with interests in media, health, public policy, governance, storytelling, and their interrelatedness with sustainable development. I run Illuminate Nigeria Development Network (INDN), Yellow Bloom Consulting, Yellow Bloom Productions and the 'Live Your Dream' Masterclass. 

This intro reminds me of Senegalese Mariama Ba's book, 'So Long a Letter', my school mates in secondary school and I joked about the length of anything with that title, the effect is that we never forgot reading it for the rest of our lives. But I digress.

I feel this intro is long, long enough to describe my work life. But it is short as well. It is an abridged one, short enough for an overview. There's a lot more.

Look forward to experiencing me richly in this space.

Thank you for visiting me here.

Come again, and again.

Anikeade FT