Funky Banjoko

Funky Banjoko is a Councilwoman of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB), a Supply Chain Professional and a mother of two amazing grown adults.. Funky obtained her first degree from the University of Jos, Nigeria in 1989 and proceeded to specialize in

supply chain management at the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Stamford, England and completed MCIPS in 1997. She is a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional of Canada.In 2003, Funky and her two (toddlers) relocated to Chicago. In 2009 she arrived in Toronto Canada alone with her two suitcases not knowing exactly what was ahead. In July 2011 she got an offer to work for Nexen Energy (CNOOC) Oil Sands and she moved to Fort McMurray. POLITICAL JOURNEY – Both Funky’s parents served on local Council in Nigeria at one point or the other, her father was the first chairman of Moba Local Government in Ekiti state right after Nigeria became independent in the 60’s (an equivalent of a mayor) and her mother served as a Councillor after retiring as a head teacher.

Funky began volunteering within the community shortly thereafter she moved to Fort McMurray and by January 2012 she was already on the Community Services Committee for the City, where she served for the maximum number of years (6). Additionally, she has sat on the Community in Bloom Committee, Immigration Advisory Table, held the position of the Social Director in the Nigerian Canadian Association of Fort Mc and is the Secretary of the Board of Trustees for her church since 2011. Through her involvement, she began to see the need for a leader in RMWB that would be the face of all peoples and represent the minorities (Black/women), address the needs to retain families, workers and to ultimately create a more stable Region. She also noticed the lack of representation for BIPOC community members and wanted to show the younger generation someone they could look up to and gain

confidence in. The audacity of Funky, the audacity to dream big and break barriers.

In 2021 she began her campaign. Her style was distinctive and her tireless campaigning outside every door/ reaching every audience, paid off. She gained the support of her primary community – Africans –and worked to establish relationships with the wider community who embraced her selfless nature and open heart. There is something about Funky that the youths love. Amazing inspiration! On October 19 th , 2021, Funky made history as she became the first Black person (man or woman) to be elected to the RMWB’s Council. She is a strong voice that can not be drowned in a crowd  Her resiliency through challenges and tenacity is unparalleled. She has become an inspiration to all in RMWB especially for the people of color, youths, women, and especially single mothers. Politically, she has become a force

to reckon with. She is not shy to share her story in the hopes of stirring up strength in others.

She draws her strength from God and the words of her late father – “when you are in a race, run like your life depends on it, you will most likely win and if you don’t, at least you would have done your best”. In 2023, she became the first black candidate to challenge the status quo again in RMWB by running to the Member of Legislative Assembly even though she did not win the overall votes but now has a record as an Independent Candidate in the Province ofAlberta to win students’ votes She is a pride to people of Africa descent and unapologetic about her Christian faith and beliefs. Her

favorite slangs – “So that He may be glorified”. “Theirs is a Funky in every child.”