*Photo: Ms. Funke-Treasure*
Frontline multimedia expert, author, and menstrual health advocate Anikeade Funke Treasure Akintoye has been named a recipient of the prestigious Voice of Dignity Award 2025, presented by the Heroes of Tomorrow Africa Foundation based in the United States.
The letter from the organisers signed by the Director of Operations, Ms. Amanda Wax, reads: “This honour is being bestowed upon you in recognition of your outstanding humanitarian impact and
groundbreaking media advocacy, particularly your tireless efforts to combat period poverty and uplift the dignity of young girls and women in Nigeria through access to sanitary products and education.
Your commitment to using your voice and platform for change has not only reshaped narratives but has also restored hope and health to thousands of undeserved communities.”
The statement reads further:
“The voice of Dignity Award is given to a visionary who exemplifies compassion, courage and communication in the service of others. Through your bold leadership in media and your unwavering commitment to empowering
women, you have become a beacon of transformative change in Africa and beyond.”
The Voice of Dignity Award honours individuals and leaders who have chosen courage over comfort, service over silence, and purpose over power, in shaping Africa’s future and redefining its role on the global stage.
Ms. Funke-Treasure would be honoured at The Heroes of Tomorrow’s Africa Award Ceremony, which has been
described as a “premier international event honoring exceptional individuals, including heads of state, policymakers, innovators, activists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders — who embody resilience, vision, and
dedication to uplifting Africa and its global descendants.”
Distinguished honourees on the line-up this year include:
H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone
H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia
H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of Senegal
Dame Sandra Mason, President of Barbados
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Nigeria)
Mayor Ras Barak of Newark
Dr. Adeyinni Ogunkoya
Dr. Simbiat Adighije
Dr. Toyin Opesanmi (Dr.O)
The award ceremony will take place in the United States on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
Reacting to the honour, the multigenre media personality and awardee, Anikeade Funke Treasure said:
“I am humbled to be recognised alongside such distinguished leaders and changemakers in Africa. This award is
a reminder that impact does not always come through headlines but also through heartlines — the quiet yet powerful echoes of our work in people’s lives. I am grateful to individuals and organisations who worked with
us in the last six years to achieve the impact and depth that shines through our work with the Sanitary Pad Media
Campaign project. I share the honour with them all. I also use this opportunity to thank the Nigerian media across
forms and formats for their relentless coverage, support and media mentions”
According to the Board Chair of Illuminate Nigeria Development Network, the parent company of Sanitary Pad Media Campaign, Prof. Sidi Osho, “This is great news, great progress and result of hard and dedicated work”.
Anikeade Funke Treasure is the Executive Director, Illuminate Nigeria Development Network, Convener of the Sanitary Pad Media Campaign (SPMC) and creator of the groundbreaking video podcast My Period Stories with Funke Treasure, currently airing on Africa Magic Family. She also founded the Media Mentoring Initiative
(MMi) in 2010, which has trained two cohorts from Lagos State University’s Faculty of Communication and
Media Studies.
In January 2025, she returned to the University with a faculty of seasoned documentary makers
to launch the Media Mentoring Initiative Documentary Fellowship for Students (MMi-DFS), a pioneering
platform nurturing the next generation of documentary storytellers.
Her work continues to focus on menstrual health advocacy, leadership, and cultural storytelling, building bridges
between media, governance, education, and social impact.
The Voice of Dignity Award further cements her influence as a voice for dignity, inclusion, and impact in Nigeria,
Africa, and globally.
Anikeade Funke-Treasure’s Work in Menstrual Health
Advocacy
Funke Treasure is a highly accomplished menstrual health
advocate whose work spans media, grassroots activism, policy
engagement, and youth empowerment. Her leadership of the
Sanitary Pad Media Campaign (SPMC) has been pivotal in
advancing menstrual hygiene awareness and combating period
poverty in Nigeria and Africa.
Awards and Recognitions
At the 2024 Accenture Gender Mainstreaming Awards, Funke Treasure achieved a remarkable
triple win as finalist in three categories:
Positive Role Model Award for West Africa (personal accolade recognizing her as a
leading gender advocate)
Mainstream Development and Disability Award (for her organization, Illuminate Nigeria
Development Network)
Investing in Young Women Award (also for Illuminate Nigeria Development Network)
She was one of the awardees of the The Iconic Brand Africa (TIBA) 2024 Social Impact of the
Year Award for her work at the Sanitary Pad Media Campaign.
She was nominated in the media category in the Inaugural Guardian Woman Festival 2024 in
March 2024.
At the Gender Mainstreaming Award 2023, West Africa Edition, in October, 2023, her
organisation, Illuminate Nigeria Development Network received a finalist plaque in the non-profit
Investing in Young Women category.
1
She was listed in 2023 as one of the 50 women leading change & talent development in
Nigeria by Enterprise Growth and Opportunities Foundation, Lagos.
She received the Woman of Excellence in Media honour at the Peak Performing Woman of the
Year 2023 award.
In December, 2022, she won the “The Girl Force Movement 2023 ‘S.H.E.R.O’ award given to a
Girl Force Movement member making significant contributions in the lives of the girl child in her
local community and actively contributing to the Girl Force Movement Community. SHERO
means Seen. Heard. Engaged. Resourceful and Open –minded
These awards underscore her sustained impact through initiatives like the Media Mentoring
Initiative (MMI), the Sanitary Pad Media Campaign, and the Funke Treasure Table Tennis
Championship (F3TC), which promotes youth development through sports[1][2]
.
Campaign Scale and Reach
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Funke Treasure mobilized about 100 campaign
advocates nationwide to raise awareness and distribute sanitary pads to vulnerable girls,
demonstrating her ability to coordinate large-scale grassroots efforts[3][4]
.
The Sanitary Pad Media Campaign now supports nearly 5,000 girls in 13 Nigerian states,
providing monthly sanitary pads, underwear, soap, and beverages as incentives to keep girls
in school and provide direct support through pad scholarships[5]. [5]
Media and Advocacy Initiatives
One Year Pad Scholarship Programme
‘My Period, My Pride’ Radio Drama
A 13-week drama series aired on six radio stations across five states in 2023, produced as an
advocacy tool demanding free sanitary pads for schoolgirls. Supported by the McArthur
Foundation Africa office, it highlights menstrual challenges, period poverty, and related
social issues[5][6][7]
.
2
‘My Period Stories’ Podcast
A video podcast broadcast on Africa Magic Family (DStv and GOtv), sharing authentic
menstrual health stories to break stigma and influence policy[5]
.
My Period Stories Essay Competition
These empower girls to share their menstrual experiences
Recent Advocacy Activities
In June 2025, Funke Treasure led a menstrual health awareness event in Ibadan titled
“My Menstrual Power,” covered by Tribune Online. The event used a “Paint & Sip”
workshop format involving girls and boys, including students from the Ibadan School for the
Deaf, to foster open conversations about menstruation through visual arts. This inclusive
approach engaged boys as caregivers and allies, emphasizing menstrual hygiene education
and stigma reduction[3]
.
Leadership and Professional Roles
Executive Director of Illuminate Nigeria Development Network (INDN)
Board member of multiple organizations including the International Press Centre (IPC) and
African Diaspora Contemporary Arts Company (ADCAC)[2]
Certified John Maxwell Team coach, speaker, and facilitator
Founder of the Live Your Dream Masterclass and lead consultant at Yellow Bloom
Consulting[2]
Organizer of the Media Mentoring Initiative Documentary Fellowship for Students
Judge for Nigeria’s US Scripps Spelling Bee Franchise[2]
Advocacy Focus
Advocates for free, sustainable sanitary pads for schoolgirls and affordable products for
low-income women, emphasizing menstrual hygiene as a human rights and gender equity
issue[3][5]
.
3
Calls for policy reforms including menstrual leave, improved sanitation in schools, and
inclusion of menstrual products in humanitarian relief packages in her video and audio
podcasts.
Champions menstrual health inclusivity, including for differently abled girls, supported by
petitions on Change.org[3]
.
Calls for normalizing period conversations in public.
Public Engagement
Regular speaker at gender and policy forums such as the Dr. Oby Ezekwesili led School of
Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG)’s [8]
.Big Ideas Platform in May 2025.
Active on social media platforms, using storytelling to engage youths and policymakers[4][9]
.
Achievements of the Sanitary Pad Media Campaign
One-Year Pad Scholarship (2021–2025)
Reach and Impact
Nearly 4,500 secondary school girls across 13 Nigerian states have received monthly
sanitary pad supplies and hygiene kits for a year in the last five years.
Educational Incentives
The One Year Pad Scholarship Programme include incentives such as disposable, reusable
pads, beverage, deodorant, underwear, soap and backpacks to encourage school attendance.
Community and Government Engagement
Partnerships with NGOs, schools and government bodies have enhanced sustainability.
Outcomes
Documented reductions in menstrual-related absenteeism, improved menstrual hygiene
practices, enhanced personal confidence among beneficiaries.
.
4
Impact of ‘My Period Stories’ Podcast (2024 till present)
Awareness and Advocacy
Sharing authentic menstrual experiences through the telling of personal stories by
menstruators, is helping to normalise menstruation and reduce stigma across Nigeria, spilling
over to West Africa and the rest of sub Saharan Africa.
Policy Influence
The podcast has amplified calls for free sanitary pads in schools, the consideration of
menstrual leave, and empathy for those who have period conditions, thereby influencing
open dialogue and public discourse.
Wide Reach
My Period Stories podcast is broadcast on the Multichoice platform through the Africa
Magic Family channel. It is available on DStv and GOtv, reaching audiences across sub-
Saharan Africa.
Impact of ‘My Period, My Pride’ Radio Drama Series
Launch and Reach
Debuted in August 2023 six radio stations in 5 cities in Nigeria – Bond FM, Radio Now,
Invicta FM, Darling FM, Hot FM in Lagos, Kaduna, Imo, and Cross River States. It was
broadcast on Radio Nigeria Network in 2024, airing weekly on the flagship women’s
program ‘Every Woman’ across the country.
Content and Themes:
The 13-week drama series follows Efe, a schoolgirl, and her mother, highlighting challenges
such as first menstruation, menstrual pain, period poverty, and the struggle to stay in school.
Advocacy Tool
explicitly demands free sanitary pads for schoolgirls from all levels of Nigerian government.
Links period poverty to teenage pregnancy, highlights the significance of menstrual health
education in schools, inclusion of boys in such education, and the issue of stigma arising
from period poverty.
Social Impact
Sparked public conversations on menstruation, period poverty, gender-based violence, and
women’s empowerment.
Support and Recognition
Supported by the McArthur Foundation Africa office and recognized by Radio Nigeria as a
powerful medium for social change.
Cultural Shift
Uses drama, a less common medium in Nigerian radio, to engage audiences and
policymakers effectively.
Advocacy Petitions by Funke Treasure on Change.org
Petition for Free Sanitary Pads for Secondary School Girls:
Initiated by Anike-ade Funke Treasure in May 2021, this petition calls on the Nigerian state and federal legislators to provide free sanitary pads for secondary school girls nationwide. It has garnered over 9,000 verified signatures, reflecting strong public support for menstrual equity in education.
Petition for Free Sanitary Pads for Differently Abled Girls:
Complementing the broader campaign, Funke Treasure also launched a petition advocating
for free sanitary pads specifically for differently abled girls, addressing an often overlooked vulnerable group facing compounded challenges in menstrual hygiene management.
Both petitions are integral components of the Sanitary Pad Media Campaign’s holistic advocacy strategy, aiming to influence policy and secure government commitment to ending period poverty
among underserved populations.
In summary, Funke Treasure’s menstrual health advocacy is characterized by:
Award-winning leadership recognized regionally and internationally
Large-scale grassroots mobilization and support programs
Innovative use of media and arts for awareness and stigma reduction
Inclusive advocacy addressing diverse needs, including disability
Strategic engagement with policymakers and communities to drive sustainable change.
This comprehensive approach has made her a leading voice in Nigeria’s menstrual health
movement and a role model for gender equity and youth empowerment across West Africa.
Social Media Platforms
Website – https://www.illuminatenigeria.org/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/sanitary-pad-media-campaign-spmc/
SPMC Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SANITARYMEDIAC
SPMC Instagram – https://instagram.com/sanitarymediac?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Sign the petition to “Provide Free Sanitary Pad for Secondary School Girls in Nigeria”
https://chng.it/wjKYj2Hnpj
Sign the petition for ‘Free Pads for Girls with Disabilities’ – https://chng.it/ZswqG6DV
My Period Stories Facebook –
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/CjWeG7zbhTYjAHuU/?mibextid=WaXdOe
My Period Stories Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@my_period_stories?_t=8jjh0BdyGjm&_r=1
My Period Stories Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myperiodstories_?igsh=YzN5NzIzOTBsajR0
Audio Podcast
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/myperiodstorieswithfunke-treasure/
My Period Stories Podcast You Tube –
https://youtube.com/@sanitarypadmediacampaign?si=nSeSHjtehGO01mAK
Sources:
[3] Punch NG – Interview with Funke Treasure on menstrual hygiene advocacy
[1] Vanguard NG – Triple win at 2024 Accenture Gender Mainstreaming Awards
[2] Business Engage Africa – Profile of Funke Treasure
[8] School of Politics, Policy and Governance announcement
[5] MediaCareerNG, NewsDiaryOnline, The Nation Newspaper – Coverage of “My Period, My
Pride” and SPMC activities
[6] The Nation Newspaper – “My Period, My Pride” radio drama debut
[7] NewsDiaryOnline – Radio drama on menstrual health
[4] LinkedIn post by Funke Treasure
[9] Instagram spotlight on Funke Treasure
1. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/05/gender-advocacy-triple-win-for-funke-treasure-at-
agm-awards/
2. https://www.businessengage.africa/profiles/anikeade-funke-treasure/
3. https://punchng.com/lack-of-access-to-sanitary-kits-affecting-girl-child-funke-treasure/
4. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anike-adefunketreasure_menstrualhealth-period-
periodpoverty-activity-7320739772795174913-Fae_
5. https://mediacareerng.org/drama-serial-on-menstrual-health-debuts-on-radio-nigeria-
network/
6. https://thenationonlineng.net/my-period-my-pride-debuts/
7. https://newsdiaryonline.com/radio-drama-soap-on-menstrual-health-debuts/
8. https://x.com/TheSPPG/status/1914690427665469545
9. https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwKoG7tF6N/