Funke Akindele reflects on her self-made success: ‘Nobody made me a star’
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele confidently declared herself as a self-made star, attributing her success to her hard work, dedication, and the grace of God.
Speaking at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) 2025 Media Sales Conference in Lagos, Akindele shared her journey in the Nigerian film industry, emphasizing that her rise to fame was driven by her personal effort.
She stated, “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.”
Akindele also acknowledged the influence of veteran singer D’banj, who, at a pivotal moment in her career, encouraged her to further develop the ‘Jenifa’ brand. She recalled the encounter, saying, “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 first rose to prominence with her role in the popular sitcom I Need to Know, which aired from 1998 to 2002. However, it was her breakout role in the 2008 film Jenifa that catapulted her to fame. Since then, she has become the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian cinema, cementing her position as one of the industry’s most influential figures.
