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.
Funke-Treasure will be honoured at The Heroes of Tomorrow’s Africa Award ceremony, which has been described as a “premier international event honouring exceptional individuals, including heads of state, policy makers, innovators, activists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders — who embody resilience, vision, and dedication to uplifting Africa and its global descendants.”
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Distinguished honourees on the line-up this year include:
Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone; Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia; 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 and Dr. Toyin Opesanmi.
The award ceremony will take place in the United States on Saturday, September 20, 2025
Reacting to the honour, the multi-genre 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.
