By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Nollywood actress and box office queen, Funke Akindele, has attributed her success to God, emphasizing that no one but her Maker made her a star.
Speaking at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) 2025 event, the award-winning filmmaker shared insights into her career journey, recalling how the Jenifa brand was conceived and how she started scripting her movies.
She revealed that an industry insider once advised her to continue expanding the Jenifa brand and even provided financial support for her projects. Funke also addressed audience behavior shifts and the evolving landscape of content marketing in Nigeria.
Reflecting on past struggles, she recalled how singer D’banj played a pivotal role in encouraging her to keep the Jenifa franchise alive. During the artist’s anniversary dinner in June 2024, Funke revealed that D’banj not only motivated her but also provided financial assistance for her next project.
In 2024, the actress opened up about the hardships she endured before rising to fame. While working on the set of her record-breaking film, A Tribe Called Judah, she described herself as a “testimony of self-belief,” stating that overcoming challenges had strengthened her resolve to inspire others.
Now reigning as West Africa’s box office queen, Funke’s latest film, Everybody Loves Jenifa, has shattered records, grossing ₦1.6 billion and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in the region. This milestone surpasses her own previous record set by A Tribe Called Judah, which earned over ₦1.4 billion.
