Nollywood actress and movie producer, Funke Akindele, attributes her success in the film industry to God.
The actress said that no one made her a star during her speech at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) 2025 Media Sales Conference in Lagos.
Funke stated that her success in the film industry was due to her hard work and dedication to the craft.
The movie star also acknowledged veteran Nigerian singer, D’banj’s significant role in her Jenifa brand.
She said, “Nobody made me a star, only God made me a star. I wrote my script, and that was it. The first ‘Jenifa’ was released in 2009, and that was the turning point.
“Amidst the buzz, a club owner reached out to host me at his club, and I met D’banj there. He asked what I was doing with the ‘Jenifa’ brand. I said, ‘I have moved on. I will do another thing.’ He said, ‘No. You have to milk it. It should not go like that. That’s a brand. Go and write another script.’ He gave me some money, and I went back and continued writing.”
Funke Akindele came into the limelight after starring in the popular sitcom, ‘I Need to Know’, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Her big break came in 2008 when she starred in the movie, Jenifa.
She is the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian film history.
