Funke Akindele has shared a touching story about how she spent her very first ₦1 million — money she earned from her breakout role as Bisi in the popular educational TV series I Need to Know.
Taking a trip down memory lane, the award-winning actress and filmmaker opened up on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) about her early days in Nollywood, describing the journey as far from easy.
She recalled starting her career in 1996, taking on small “waka pass” roles and facing countless rejections before finally landing her big break in I Need to Know — a moment that changed everything.
“I made that around 1999. I started my career from 1996, doing waka pass roles, then going for auditions in 1997 and hearing a lot of ‘nos’. Then I finally got one big ‘yes’ with I Need to Know, and that’s how I made my first ₦1 million,” she shared.
When asked how she spent it, Funke said the first thing she did was tell her mother, who advised her to pay her tithe before anything else.
“What did I do with one million naira? First, I showed it to my mom. Of course, she already knew about it. She told me to pay my tithe first, and I did. Then I went to Yaba because I didn’t have shoes. I changed my wardrobe — new shoes, bags, clothes, everything. The girl who once had no shoes finally had plenty,” she said.
Her story is a reminder of humble beginnings, resilience, and how far dedication can take you — from “waka pass” roles to one of Nollywood’s biggest success stories.
