Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele has attributed her success in the film industry to her hard work and dedication, describing herself as self-made.
She acknowledged the role of God in her achievements while speaking at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, MIPAN, 2025 Media Sales Conference in Lagos.
She said, “Nobody made me a star, only God. I wrote my script, and that was it. The first ‘Jenifa’ was released in 2009, and that was the turning point.
“Amidst the buzz, a club owner reached out to host me at his club, and I met D’banj there. He asked what I was doing with the ‘Jenifa’ brand. I said, ‘I have moved on. I will do another thing.’ He said, ‘No. You have to milk it. It should not go like that. That’s a brand. Go and write another script.’ He gave me some money, and I went back and continued writing.”
Funke Akindele also recognized the support of veteran singer D’banj in her career success.
Funke Akindele rose to fame after starring in the popular sitcom I Need to Know from 1998 to 2002, and gained further recognition with her role in the movie Jenifa in 2008.
She is currently the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian cinema.
