Funmi Iyanda is a multi-award winning broadcaster, journalist, columnist and blogger. She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ignite Media, and host of the television program Talk With Funmi.
Ms. Iyanda produced and hosted Nigerias most popular and authoritative talk show NEW DAWN with Funmi, which aired on the national network for over eight years.
The success of NEW DAWN with Funmi made it the longest running independently produced programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). The programme used its influence as a vehicle for social change and transformation by advocating the cause of the vulnerable members of society with a bias for women, youth and children. Some of the show’s initiatives included the “Change-A-Life” programme, which later grew into Change-A-Life Foundation. The foundation provides educational scholarships to vulnerable children, micro-financing for women to start and maintain small businesses, as well as healthcare interventions.
CHAIRMAN TO THE BOARD
Muhtar Bakare studied architecture at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. He was recruited from school by Citibank Nigeria as a Management Associate and rose to the position of Assistant General Manager before he was headhunted as part of a turnaround team to resuscitate the then distressed Trust Bank of Africa Limited.
Mr. Bakare was the Executive Director of Trust Bank for two years. He left the banking industry in June 2002 to launch his publishing business Kachifo Limited, which is an independent publishing house and parent company of Farafina and Prestige Books.
SECRETARY TO THE BOARD
Morenike Nedum is a partner in the law firm, ABFR & Co. She studied law at the University of Lagos and became a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1988. She commenced her legal career with Abegunde, Omotayo & Co, her place of primary assignment under the National Youth Service Corps.
Ms. Nedum thereafter joined the firm, Ajumogobia, Okeke, Oyebode & Aluko in 1991 as an associate counsel and remained there until its evolution into two separate law firms, joining one of the offshoots, Aluko & Oyebode.
Her focus and experience has been in the field of corporate and commercial law, spanning a period of over 20 years. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association and the International Trademark Association.
MEMBER
Chris Ubosi was born and educated in Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ife and a Master of Science degree in Project Management from the University of Lagos.
He has in the last 24 years been actively involved in the built environment, telecommunications and broadcasting industries of Nigeria. He is the co-founder of MTech Communications Plc, a Value Added Services (VAS) provider of first-class services in data communications, using existing GSM networks and state-of-the-art mobile technology.
Mr. Ubosi is one of the pioneers of private broadcasting in Nigeria. He operated and consulted for several private radio stations in Nigeria for over 16 years. He also consulted for the federal government in the establishment of the 32 digital stations nationwide. Mr. Ubosi is the CEO of Beat, Classic and Naija FM.
MEMBER
Dr. Bosede Afolabi (M.B.Ch.B, F.R.C.O.G, F.W.A.C.S, F.M.C.O.G) is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
She is also a medical educator with a diploma from the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), USA.
Dr. Afolabi has worked as a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the U.K. and in Nigeria as an academician. Her areas of expertise are in maternal and fetal medicine evidence-based medicine. She authored 26 peer-reviewed publications and 3 cochrane systematic reviews.
Dr Afolabi also runs an organisation called MRH Research Collective, which focuses on the improvement of reproductive health of Nigerian women through education and research.