Renowned Nigerian broadcast journalist, leadership coach, author, and gender advocate Anike-Ade Funke Treasure Akintoye has achieved a remarkable milestone by receiving three prestigious honours at the 2024 Accenture Gender Mainstreaming Awards.
Organised by Business Engage in partnership with global consulting firm Accenture, the awards celebrate individuals and organisations excelling in advancing gender equality, diversity, and inclusion across Africa. They highlight impactful initiatives that promote sustainable development and foster inclusive environments.
At the 2024 edition, Funke Treasure was named a category finalist for the Positive Role Model Award for West Africa, recognising her inspiring leadership and commitment to empowering women and emerging professionals in media and leadership. Her organisation, Illuminate Nigeria Development Network, was also a finalist in two categories: the Mainstream Development and Disability Award and the Investing in Young Women Award for West Africa.
This marks her second consecutive year of recognition, following accolades in 2023 for her leadership and social impact initiatives.
Beyond broadcasting, Funke Treasure is a certified leadership coach with the John Maxwell Team and a sought-after speech coach, having trained numerous journalists and corporate professionals in communication and leadership. Through her Media Mentoring Initiative (MMI), she bridges the gap between aspiring media professionals and industry opportunities.
Her advocacy extends to grassroots development, notably through the Sanitary Pad Media Campaign, which has provided free sanitary products to nearly 4,000 schoolgirls across 14 Nigerian states, addressing menstrual hygiene and promoting school retention. She also founded the Funke Treasure Table Tennis Championship (F3TC), encouraging sports participation among junior secondary school girls to build confidence and leadership skills.
Colleen Larsen, Founder of Business Engage, said, “The Gender Mainstreaming Awards were established to drive real change by recognising and rewarding those committed to advancing diversity, fostering inclusion, and cultivating belonging in business.”
Funke Treasure continues to champion gender equality, youth development, and leadership empowerment across West Africa, inspiring the next generation of changemakers.