By Prosper Mene
Lagos, Nigeria
Funke Akindele is not slowing down. The actress, producer and director sat down for a new interview where she spoke candidly about breaking box office records, the state of Nollywood, and her biggest goal yet: mentoring the next generation of women behind the camera.
Known as “Jenifa” to millions of fans, Akindele has spent the last few years rewriting what success looks like in Nigerian cinema. Her films A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa both crossed the ₦1 billion mark at the box office, making her the highest-grossing Nollywood director to date.
But for Akindele, the numbers are only part of the story.
“I want to build the next generation of female filmmakers,” she said. “For a long time, the industry was dominated by men in key roles — directing, producing, funding. Now we have women telling our stories, and we need to pull more women up with us.”
The 48-year-old revealed she has started putting structures in place through her production company to train young women in directing, scriptwriting, and production management. According to her, many talented women get stuck in entry-level roles because they lack access and mentorship.
“We have the talent. What we need is opportunity,” she explained. “If I can open doors for 10 girls this year, and they open doors for 10 more, then we’re changing the industry.”
Akindele also addressed the pressure that comes with breaking records. After A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nollywood film to gross over ₦1 billion, expectations have been high.
“The pressure is real, but I don’t make films for records,” she said. “I make films for my people. For the market woman, for the student, for families who want to laugh and cry together. If it breaks records, that’s a bonus.”
On Nollywood’s global rise, she said streaming platforms and cinema culture have given Nigerian stories a bigger stage. But she warned that quality and originality must remain the focus.
“We can’t just chase trends. Our stories are powerful because they are ours. Family, community, hustle, faith — that’s what connects with people here and abroad.”
With two back-to-back billion-naira films and a TV franchise that has run for over 15 years, Funke Akindele has cemented her place in Nollywood history. Yet she says she’s just getting started.
“My legacy won’t just be the films I made,” she added. “It will be the women I helped become directors, producers, and storytellers too.”
