‘When It Comes to Work, Funke Akindele Doesn’t Joke’ — Saka

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Veteran Nollywood actor Afeez Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka, has offered an explanation for filmmaker Funke Akindele’s strict approach to work, saying her firmness is necessary when handling major film productions.

Saka, who worked with Akindele on the 2025 movie Behind The Scenes, said his experience with the filmmaker was positive. 

He rejected the perception that she is difficult to work with and instead described her as disciplined, caring and focused on getting the best out of people around her.

According to the actor, managing a production that involves millions of naira requires someone who can maintain order and demand professionalism from cast and crew. 

He suggested that Akindele’s reputation for being strict is largely connected to the seriousness she brings to her work.

Saka also explained that Akindele does not treat everyone harshly. In his view, people who carry out their responsibilities properly have little reason to have problems with her. He described her as someone who understands when to be serious and when to enjoy herself.

The veteran actor added that laziness is unlikely to be tolerated on Akindele’s sets because of the level of commitment required to deliver large-scale productions. 

He portrayed her strictness as part of her leadership style rather than evidence of a bad temperament.

His comments come against the backdrop of Akindele’s impressive performance at the Nigerian box office. Behind The Scenes, which she co-directed with Tunde Olaoye, was released in December 2025 and went on to become the first Nigerian movie to surpass N2 billion in domestic box-office earnings. Reports later put its total earnings above N2.4 billion.

The achievement further strengthened Akindele’s position as one of the most commercially successful figures in Nigeria’s film industry. 

Her previous productions, including Everybody Loves Jenifa and A Tribe Called Judah, also recorded major box-office performances.

Saka’s remarks therefore offer insight into the work ethic behind Akindele’s filmmaking success. His argument is that the pressure associated with producing successful movies requires discipline, attention to detail and the willingness to challenge people who fail to meet expectations.

With Akindele preparing for another major project, The Four, scheduled for release in December 2026, expectations around her next production are already building.

For Saka, the filmmaker’s demanding nature should not necessarily be viewed negatively. Instead, he sees it as one of the qualities that helps her maintain high standards and deliver ambitious projects in an increasingly competitive Nigerian film industry.

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