Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele has credited singer D’banj with playing a pivotal role in her rise to stardom. While emphasizing that only God is responsible for her success, she revealed how D’banj’s advice helped her take a major step forward in her career.
Speaking at the 2025 Media Sales Conference organized by the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in Lagos, Akindele shared previously unknown details about her journey in the film industry. She highlighted her dedication and hard work but acknowledged that a conversation with D’banj significantly shaped her path.
According to her, the turning point in her career came in 2009 when she released Jenifa. Amid the film’s growing popularity, a club owner invited her to an event where she met D’banj.
“He asked me what I was doing with the Jenifa brand. I told him I had moved on to other projects, but he insisted I shouldn’t abandon it. He told me to build on it, calling it a brand that needed to be expanded. He even supported me financially, which motivated me to continue writing,” she recalled.
Taking his advice, she went on to develop multiple sequels in the Jenifa franchise, culminating in the record-breaking Everybody Loves Jenifa, which premiered on December 13, 2024.
The Jenifa franchise began with the 2008 release of Jenifa, followed by its feature sequel, The Return of Jenifa, in 2011. In 2015, she launched the hit TV series Jenifa’s Diary, which later spawned further spin-offs, including Aiyetoro Town in 2019 and Jenifa on Lockdown in 2021.
Since then, Akindele has continued to dominate the Nigerian film industry, cementing her status as the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian cinema and earning the title of the Queen of the Nigerian box office.