Funke Akindele Reflects on Her Journey, Credits Success to Hard Work and Divine Favor
Renowned actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has shared insights into her journey in the movie industry, emphasizing that her rise to fame was driven by determination and divine favor.
Speaking at the 2025 Media Sales Conference organized by the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in Lagos, she made it clear that no individual was responsible for her success.
Acknowledging the role of persistence in her career, Funke also credited veteran singer D’banj for inspiring her to expand the Jenifa brand.
“Nobody made me a star—only God did,” she shared. “I wrote my script, and that was it. The first Jenifa movie in 2009 changed everything. During the buzz, a club owner invited me over, and that’s where I met D’banj. He asked about my plans for Jenifa, and I told him I was moving on to something else. He insisted I build on it, calling it a brand. He even supported me financially to develop a new script.”
Funke Akindele first gained recognition in I Need to Know, a popular series that aired from 1998 to 2002. However, her major breakthrough came in 2008 with the release of Jenifa, which became a defining moment in her career.
Today, she holds the record as the highest-grossing filmmaker in Nigerian cinema, solidifying her place as one of the most influential figures in the industry.
