Funke Akindele: Only God Made Me A Star, Not Anyone Else

Funke Akindele, a Nollywood actress and producer, has given God the credit for her career success.
Speaking at the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) 2025 Media Sales Conference in Lagos, the actress reportedly said that no one made her a star, according to Naija News.
Funke claimed that her diligence and commitment to the craft were the reasons behind her success in the film industry.

The movie star also recognized the important contribution D’banj, a seasoned Nigerian singer, made to her Jenifa brand.”God alone made me a star; no one else did,” she declared. The only thing I did was write my script. The pivotal moment came with the release of the first “Jenifa” in 2009.

In the midst of the commotion, a club owner invited me to stay at his establishment, where I met D’banj. He inquired as to why I was using the “Jenifa” brand. “I have moved on,” I said. I’m going to do something else. “No,” he responded. You must milk it. That shouldn’t be the case. It’s a brand. Write another script now. After he gave me some cash, I returned to writing.

After appearing in the hit sitcom “I Need to Know,” which aired from 1998 to 2002, Funke Akindele gained notoriety. When she starred in the film Jenifa in 2008, it was her big break.

She is the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian film history.