Funmi Iyanda

Funmi Iyanda is a Nigerian broadcaster, journalist and producer best known for independently producing and hosting the television talk show New Dawn with Funmi. Her wider work encompasses documentary and feature-film production, media entrepreneurship and social-intervention initiatives.

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About Funmi Iyanda

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria · Broadcaster, Journalist, Television producer

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Also known as: Olufunmilola Aduke Iyanda
Known for: Nigerian television talk shows; Documentary production; Feature-film production; Social-intervention initiatives
Country: Nigeria

Broadcaster
Journalist
Television producer
Film producer
Media entrepreneur

At a glance

Iyanda independently produced and hosted New Dawn with Funmi, a nationally broadcast Nigerian talk show that ran for approximately eight years.
She wrote, executive-produced and presented the BBC-commissioned documentary series My Country Nigeria.
She founded Change-A-Life, a social-intervention initiative that developed from New Dawn and was later formalized as an organization.
The World Economic Forum named Iyanda to its 2011 class of Young Global Leaders.

Background and early broadcasting

Iyanda graduated from the University of Ibadan with a degree in Geography. Before establishing her best-known programme, she worked on the breakfast television show Good Morning Nigeria, an early part of a career spanning journalism, broadcasting and television production.

New Dawn with Funmi

Iyanda independently produced and hosted New Dawn with Funmi, which retrospective accounts date from 2000 and describe as having run nationally for about eight years. The programme addressed public and social issues through interviews and discussion. In October 2004, guest Bisi Alimi publicly discussed his sexuality on the programme, according to his later account to The Guardian.

Documentary and film production

Iyanda wrote, executive-produced and presented My Country Nigeria, a BBC-commissioned documentary series produced around Nigeria's 50th-independence anniversary period. Its Lagos Stories episode was nominated for Best News Documentary at the 2011 Monte Carlo Television Festival. She later produced the feature film Walking with Shadows through OYA Media; the film premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2019.

Public initiatives and recognition

Iyanda founded Change-A-Life, which grew from a New Dawn initiative into a formal organization supporting people with significant material needs. Her broader public profile has included selection for the World Economic Forum's 2011 Young Global Leader class and inclusion that year in Forbes' list of the 20 youngest power women in Africa.

Timeline

2000 Iyanda began New Dawn with Funmi, according to retrospective career accounts.
2004-10 Bisi Alimi appeared on New Dawn with Funmi and publicly discussed his sexuality, according to his account to The Guardian.
2008 Iyanda said in a 2019 interview that she ended New Dawn after an eight-year run.
2010 Iyanda produced the My Country Nigeria documentary series in connection with Nigeria's 50th-independence anniversary period.
2011 The World Economic Forum announced Iyanda as part of its 2011 Young Global Leader class.
2011 Forbes included Iyanda in its list, The 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa.
2019-10-09 Walking with Shadows, produced through OYA Media, premiered at the BFI London Film Festival.

Additional verified details

Current context

A 2016 World Economic Forum contributor page described Iyanda as Executive Director of Oya Media and Creation Television. This is historical role evidence and does not independently confirm her current title or the present operating status of either organization.
An undated African Leadership Institute directory page lists Iyanda's job title as Executive Director and names Oya Media London and Creation Television UK among her organizations. The directory was accessible on the research date but provides no update date; current employment and governance positions require fresh confirmation.

Biographical facts

Iyanda graduated from the University of Ibadan with a degree in Geography.
Before New Dawn, Iyanda worked on the breakfast television programme Good Morning Nigeria.
Iyanda independently produced and hosted New Dawn with Funmi, a Nigerian television talk show that ran nationally for approximately eight years.
Iyanda founded Change-A-Life, a social-intervention initiative that developed from New Dawn and was later formalized as an organization supporting people with significant material needs.
Iyanda wrote, executive-produced and presented My Country Nigeria, a BBC-commissioned documentary series. An episode, Lagos Stories, was nominated for Best News Documentary at the 2011 Monte Carlo Television Festival.
In October 2004, Bisi Alimi appeared on New Dawn with Funmi and publicly discussed his sexuality, according to Alimi's account to The Guardian.