Funke Akindele, an award-winning Nollywood actress and producer, describes herself as a self-made star who credits her success in the film industry to God, hard work, and dedication.
Speaking at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) 2025 Media Sales Conference in Lagos, Akindele reflected on her path to stardom, emphasizing that she started from the ground up.
“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,” she said.
However, she admitted that veteran singer D’banj played an important role in propelling her brand forward. She described how an encounter with him altered her perspective on her Jenifa franchise.
However, she admitted that veteran singer D’banj played an important role in propelling her brand forward. She described how an encounter with him altered her perspective on her Jenifa franchise.
“Amidst the excitement, a club owner invited me to his establishment, where I met D’banj.” He inquired about what I was doing with the ‘Jenifa’ brand. I told him I’d moved on. But he insisted, “No, you must milk it.” That is a brand. Go write another script.’ He even gave me some money, so I went back and kept writing,” she explained.
Funke Akindele first rose to prominence in the television series I Need to Know (1998-2002), before becoming a national sensation with her blockbuster Jenifa (2008). She is currently the most successful producer in Nigerian cinema history.
