Biography of Olufunmilola Aduke Iyanda

Olufunmilola Aduke Iyanda (born 27 July 1971), widely recognized as Funmi Iyanda, is a Nigerian talk show host, broadcaster, film and TV producer, media executive, philanthropist, journalist, and blogger. She produced and hosted the acclaimed talk show New Dawn with Funmi, which aired nationally for over eight years, establishing her as one of Nigeria’s most prominent television personalities. Funmi is the CEO of Ignite Media, now known as OYA Media. In 2011, she received global recognition for her web series, earning an honor from the World Economic Forum and being named among Forbes’ 20 Youngest Powerful Women in Africa.

Early Life
Funmi Iyanda was born in Lagos to Gabriel and Yetunde Iyanda. Her father hailed from Ogbomoso, while her mother was from Ijebu-Ode. She spent her childhood on the Lagos Mainland. Tragically, her mother passed away when she was just seven years old. Funmi attended African Church Princess Primary School in Akoka and Herbert Macaulay School in Lagos for her primary education. She proceeded to International School Ibadan for her secondary education before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the University of Ibadan.

Early Career: Good Morning Nigeria and Sports Journalism
Funmi began her television career by producing and presenting Good Morning Nigeria, a breakfast magazine show. The program featured impactful segments such as Heroes, which celebrated societal achievers, and Street Life, which delved into compelling human-interest stories across Nigeria. The show addressed social injustices, particularly those affecting vulnerable groups like women and children, and was syndicated on national television.

Her first on-air role was on MITV Live, produced by Segun Odegbami and Tunde Kelani. Driven by her passion for sports, she ventured into sports journalism, working on a documentary for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and covering major events like the 1999 Women’s World Cup, All Africa Games in Zimbabwe, and the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens.

New Dawn with Funmi
In 2000, Funmi launched New Dawn with Funmi, which aired daily on NTA 10 Lagos. The show’s success made it the longest-running independently produced program on NTA.

In addition to television, Funmi contributed as a columnist for Tempo Magazine and occasionally wrote for Farafina Magazine. Her articles have also appeared in PM News, The Punch, Daily Trust, and Vanguard Newspapers.

Talk With Funmi
After a two-year break, Funmi returned to television in 2010 with Talk With Funmi (TWF), a program directed by Chris Dada. The show traveled across Nigeria, featuring authentic stories and conversations from diverse regions.

My Country: Nigeria
In 2010, Funmi produced My Country: Nigeria, a three-part documentary celebrating Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary, aired on the BBC World Service. One of its episodes, Lagos Stories, earned a nomination for “Best News Documentary” at the 2011 Monte Carlo Television Festival.

Chopcassava
In 2012, Funmi and her creative partner Chris Dada released Chopcassava.com, a web series documenting the January 2012 fuel subsidy protests in Lagos. The series offered an insider’s perspective on the protests, which united Nigerians from all social classes. Though it wasn’t aired on Nigerian television, it received a nomination in the non-fiction web series category at the 2012 BANFF World Media Festival in Canada.

Personal Life and Advocacy
Funmi Iyanda is a member of the African Leadership Institute and a Tutu Fellow. She has participated in the ASPEN Institute’s Forum for Communications and Society.

In 2012, she joined a historic UN advocacy trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, alongside African women, to raise awareness about ending violence against women and girls. For her efforts, she was honored by then-Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Funmi also served on the boards of Farafina Trust and Positive Impact Youth Network. She was an active participant in the Occupy Nigeria protests against the government’s fuel subsidy removal policy in January 2012.

Recognition
In 2014, Funmi Iyanda was recognized as one of the BBC’s 100 Women.