Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele has described herself as self-made.
The movie star stated that she owes her success in the film industry to none other than God.
Speaking at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, MIPAN, 2025 Media Sales Conference in Lagos, Akindele explained that her success in the film industry was due to her hard work and dedication.
She, however, admitted that veteran singer D’banj played a significant role in her career success.
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 came into the limelight after starring in the popular sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Her big break came in 2008 when she starred in the movie Jenifa.
She holds the record for the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian cinema.
The movie star stated that she owes her success in the film industry to none other than God.
Speaking at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, MIPAN, 2025 Media Sales Conference in Lagos, Akindele explained that her success in the film industry was due to her hard work and dedication.
She, however, admitted that veteran singer D’banj played a significant role in her career success.
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 came into the limelight after starring in the popular sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Her big break came in 2008 when she starred in the movie Jenifa.
She holds the record for the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian cinema.
