The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini, has explained why the board recently honoured brilliant Nollywood actress, director, and producer, Funke Akindele.
Akindele was honoured with four awards at the Ikoyi, Lagos office of NFVCB on Friday, February 27, 2026, with several industry practitioners in attendance.
According to the NFVCB, Akindele had been announced the winner of the awards at different times since 2020 but had not been present to physically receive the awards until Friday, February 27, 2026.
In a chat, Dr Husseini recalled that Akindele had previously been unable to receive some of her awards due to her schedule, and when a date was agreed for presentation, the board had to make it memorable.
“We had given some awards to Funke during our digital conferences, but she was not around because it was always at a time when she was travelling. There was a particular one that was given to her in November while she was travelling, and she said, ‘Sir, when I come back, I will come and pick up the award.’ She was just to come here and meet me, and I would hand over the awards to her,” he narrated.
Continuing, Husseini said, “But Funke is not just someone who will walk in here, and I will hand the award to her. We should at least celebrate her. Even if I were not the Executive Director, I would have organised something for the awards presentation. I think it is important for us to give her flowers, to give people their flowers when they deserve it. If not for an emergency meeting with the president, the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in Nigeria, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, would have presented one of the awards to Funke personally.”
Akindele was presented with the Box Office Champion award for the year 2020 with the film, ‘Omo Ghetto.’ The award was presented by the representatives of the guilds present at the event.
The box office queen was also presented with the ‘Audience Choice Award’ (2024/2025) for the film, ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ presented by Mahmood Ali-Balogun; Box Office Champion (2024/2025) for ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ presented by Chioma Ude; and Box Office Champion (2025/2026), for the film ‘Behind The Scenes,’ presented by Mrs Tola Akerele.
In attendance were several industry practitioners, including the GM/CEO of the National Theatre, Mrs Tola Akerele; AVRS chairman, Mahmood Ali-Balogun; AGN Vice President and actress, Dayo Amusa; President of the Association of Movie Producers, Dr Blessing Ebigeson; AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude; CEAN representative, Patrick Lee; DGN Vice President, Grace Edwin Okon, amidst several others.
In his remarks, Husseini thanked guests for attending, adding, “We are here to celebrate a talent, we are here to celebrate somebody who has made this industry not only visible to the world but to tell everyone that it is possible to be in this industry and make money from the industry.”
