Nigerian actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has attributed her remarkable success to years of intense sacrifice, discipline, and hard work.
Speaking in a recent interview, the billionaire actress revealed that she deliberately gave up social activities, vacations, parties, and even friendships to focus fully on building her brand. According to Akindele, these sacrifices were necessary to achieve the level of success she enjoys today.
The 48-year-old mother of two disclosed that she secluded herself at Amen Estate for three years, dedicating that period entirely to content creation and brand development. During that time, she worked relentlessly on projects such as Jenifa, Industreet, Aiyetoro, My Siblings and I, and other productions that have since become major achievements in her career.
“Hard work is hard work,” she said. “It means putting in the effort when it matters and depriving yourself of things many people chase after. I locked myself away for three years, no parties, no vacations, no social life—just me and my team working tirelessly to build something meaningful. That’s the kind of hard work I’m talking about.”
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Akindele also emphasized her hands-on approach on set, noting that she is deeply involved in every aspect of production. “I’m not a diva on set,” she explained. “No wigs, no glam—just my cornrows and full focus. I’m everywhere, ensuring everything is done properly until the job is complete. The glam only comes after the work is done.”
Her dedication has paid off significantly. In 2024, Funke Akindele broke her own record by producing the first Nigerian film to gross over ₦1 billion at the box office and later went on to achieve an unprecedented milestone with the first Nigerian film to surpass ₦2 billion in cinema revenue.
For Akindele, success is simply the reward for unwavering commitment and real hard work.