Michael Akanji
{{short description|Nigerian of Yoruba descent (born 1984)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{notability|Bio|date=November 2021}}
{{COI|date=November 2021}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = Michael Akanji
| image =
| pronunciation = Àkànjí
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1984|9}}
| nationality = Nigerian
| education =
| occupation = Sexual Health and Rights activism
| years_active = 2013
| employer = TIERs, Heartland Alliance International
| known_for =
}}
Michael Akanji (born 1984) is a Nigerian of Yoruba descent. He is a Sexual Health and Rights Advocate. He was the director of The Initiative For Equal Rights (TIERs) and presently, Nigerians key population advisor for Heartland Alliance International.{{Cite news|last=Onishi|first=Norimitsu|date=2015-12-20|title=U.S. Support of Gay Rights in Africa May Have Done More Harm Than Good (Published 2015)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/21/world/africa/us-support-of-gay-rights-in-africa-may-have-done-more-harm-than-good.html|access-date=2020-12-29|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Mudia|first=Jokpa|date=2020-10-08|title=Nigeria: AVAC, Others Offer HIV Awareness Advice|url=https://www.developmentdiaries.com/2020/10/nigeria-avac-others-offer-hiv-awareness-advice/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Development Diaries|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Lagos seeks to end HIV transmission by 2030|url=https://punchng.com/lagos-seeks-end-hiv-transmission-2030/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Punch Newspapers|date=22 July 2016|language=en-US}}
Biography
Michael Akanji was born in September 1984. He has studied at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Federal University of Technology, Minna and University of San Diego.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-02|title=Michael Akanji — BIOGRAPHY|url=http://luyisupdates.com.ng/michael-akanji-biography/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Luyis Updates|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-09-28|title=In-Focus: Michael Akanji|url=https://9jafeminista.wordpress.com/2019/09/28/in-focus-michael-akanji/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=9jafeminista|language=en}} He is a Sexual Health and Rights Advocate whose works focus on the LGBTQI and HIV/AIDS.{{Cite web|last=Osuizigbo-okechukwu|first=Lucy|date=2020-10-05|title=HIV/AIDS Prevention: NGOs urge FG to leverage pop culture to reach youths|url=https://nnn.ng/hiv-aids-prevention-ngos-urge-fg-to-leverage-pop-culture-to-reach-youths/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=NNN|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=Ekemini Ekwere {{!}} News|date=2014-01-21|title=Gay Nigerian Woman Speaks To CNN On Newly Signed Law [WATCH]|url=https://www.thetrentonline.com/gay-nigerian-woman-speaks-to-cnn-on-newly-signed-law-watch/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=The Trent|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2015-05-20|title=Stop violence against homosexuals|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/stop-violence-against-homosexuals/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics|language=en-US}} Michael works across the West African region.{{Cite web|date=2014-01-21|title=Anti-gay law: Openly gay Nigerian woman speaks on CNN (WATCH) » YNaija|url=https://naija.yafri.ca/anti-gay-law-openly-gay-nigerian-woman-speaks-on-cnn-watch/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=YNaija|language=en-GB}} Michael has worked with different organizations including the UN and contributed to research projects such as "Our Voice, Our Future: Young People Report on Progress Made on the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,"{{cite web|url=https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/youth_UNGASS.pdf |title=Our Voice, Our Future |work=Youth UNGASS Repor|access-date=7 December 2023}} and "MSM in Sub-Saharan Africa: Health, Access, & HIV: Findings from the 2012 Global Men’s Health & Rights (GMHR) Study."{{cite web|url=https://msmgf.org/files/msmgf/documents/MSMinSSA_PolicyBrief.pdf |title=MSM in Sub-Saharan Africa: Health, Access, & HIV | first1=Keletso|last1=Makofane|first2=Jack|last2=Beck|first3=George|last3=Ayala|work=Global Men’s Health and Rights Study|date=2014}}
He was also a member of the Local Organizing Committee of the First National Conference on Inclusivity, Equality, And Diversity in University Education in Nigeria.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-02|title=Michael Akanji — BIOGRAPHY|url=http://luyisupdates.com.ng/michael-akanji-biography/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=Luyis Updates|language=en-US}}
Michael is a 2015 fellow of the United States International Visitor Leadership Program. He is a co author of Through the Gender Lens{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1079410981|title=Through the gender lens : a century of social and political development in Nigeria|others=Soetan, Funmi, 1954-, Akanji, Bola|date=12 December 2018|isbn=978-1-4985-9325-0|location=Lanham|oclc=1079410981}} and has been a contributor and coauthor of a number of publications.
References
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