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| Image: Instagram |
Nollywood superstar and filmmaker Funke Akindele has shared intimate details about the sacrifices she made to turn her Jenifa brand into a household name.
Speaking at the International Women’s Day event hosted by Wema Bank, Akindele spoke candidly with TV personality Morayo Brown about the dedication behind her rise to fame.
Reflecting on the journey, she revealed that her road to success came with a heavy personal cost.
“We are seeing the billions, we are all saying congratulations, the accolades, Funke is doing a great job.
I want to be like Funke, but what it costs me to be sitting here today is a lot,” she said.
Akindele described how she devoted nearly every waking hour to the brand, managing multiple roles at once.
“I remember locking myself up in Amen Estate for almost two years, just building the Jenifa brand. Writing, producing, directing, playing Jenifer, supervising every department to grow the brand,” she explained.
Her focus on work over social life drew criticism from colleagues who didn’t understand her sacrifices.
“And I remember my colleagues will be so mad at me for not going to people’s parties. What’s wrong with you? She is a sadist, but they didn’t know what I was doing,” she said, recalling the misunderstanding she faced.
Beyond the social isolation, Akindele also highlighted the mental and emotional effort required to stay committed.
“It took my time, my comfort. Sometimes I want to relax, so I remind myself to stand up. No time to chill, you have a target,”
she said. She admitted that vulnerability was a part of the process too, especially when her work faced criticism:
“Then it took vulnerability; I was vulnerable in the sense that when you pour in different things, and you’re all into the production, and some things don’t work out, you sit back and watch them criticise you. I had to take it in, it’s difficult, but it has helped me today to grow.”
Funke Akindele’s story is a testament to the sacrifices, resilience, and focus needed to achieve lasting success in Nollywood.
Her journey reminds aspiring creatives that building a brand often requires giving up comfort and social life but the payoff can be remarkable.
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