Media personality Chude Jideonwo has paid tribute to veteran broadcaster Funmi Iyanda, describing her as “the greatest Nigeria TV host” and one of the most brilliant people he has ever met.
In a video posted to Instagram, Chude recalled the first time he saw Funmi on television in 1998 and how it changed his perception of Nigerian TV.
“I remember watching Funmi Iyanda on television and just thinking ‘how can someone be so amazing’. You know, TV Nigeria at the time was so stuffy, it was so distant.
“And I would watch TV abroad, talk shows abroad and feel like they were talking to me like I was in their living room,” he said.
“I thought there was something wrong with Nigeria, why we couldn’t have TV like that until 1998 when I watched Funmi Iyanda on TV and I didn’t even know her name. She was exactly the kind of TV host I thought TV deserved.”
Chude went on to recount how Funmi gave him his first paying job in television.
“To eventually have her give me my first TV paying job was one of the greatest honours in my life,” he said, before praising her impact on the industry through her now-defunct talk show New Dawn.
“I think Funmi Iyanda is the greatest Nigeria TV host. I also think she is one of the most brilliant persons I ever met. New Dawn was a happy place for me. Funmi created this magical space in New Dawn. We’ve not seen a TV show like New Dawn since Funmi left.”
The 40-year-old also honoured other TV figures who played key roles in his career.
“Levi Ajuonuma. Funmi Iyanda. John Momoh.
“Thank you for believing me when no one else did.
“Thank you for seeing when even I couldn’t.
“There are not enough words to say thank you.”
This is not the first time Chude has publicly acknowledged Funmi Iyanda’s influence in his life.
In March, the 40-year-old shared a throwback photo of himself, Funmi and his mother, taken during a surprise birthday celebration live on New Dawn when he turned 19.
“My former boss, TV legend Funmi Iyanda, sent me this photo with the most beautiful message,” he wrote at the time.
“This was from a surprise birthday party she threw for me live on TV on New Dawn – when I turned 19.
In this photo are two of the most important people in my life.
“My TV mother, who is the most important figure in my entire career journey. Who built my foundations, shaped my philosophy, and gave me my life’s biggest opportunities in my formative years. She taught and continues to teach me what truly matters when it comes to significance.
“My own mother, who is the most important person in my life… Every move she made was perfect… It is because of her that I remain naive about how evil people can be – because all she taught me was love, kindness, empathy, forgiveness.”
As he marked his 40th birthday, Chude reflected on his growth, writing, “40-year-old me is incredibly fond of this young man just starting out at 19. 19-year-old me is incredibly proud of the man I have become today.”
Funmi Iyanda, widely regarded as a trailblazer in Nigerian broadcasting, hosted New Dawn on NTA for several years, giving a platform to important conversations and emerging voices in media and activism.
