Funke Akindele Biography – Age, Net worth, Family, Awards and Expensive Lifestyle in 2021
Akindele-Bello Olufunke Ayotunde, or simply Jenifa/Funke Akindele as fans know her, is a renowned Nigerian actress, film producer, and businesswoman. She's regarded as one of the few women in Nigeria with a grand vision of becoming world-famous and reshaping their careers. Though many of her fans think all about the actress is known to them, there are quite a certain number of things, and situations about her life only very few (mostly her colleagues and close friends) are aware of.
Hello there, and welcome to HotNaija, your one-stop destination for the latest entertainment news, celebrity gossips and stories, lifestyle content, and cryptocurrency news. Today we'll be sharing with you the biography, career, goals, vision, and many other exclusive details about her life that many are yet to unearth. Without any further ado, let's dive in to find out more about the talented actress.
★ Profile
• Date of birth – August 24, 1977
• Age – 44 years
• Occupation – Actress, Profile
• Full name – Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele-Bello
Film producer, scriptwriter, and entrepreneur
• Active years in acting – 1998-present
• Popular movies – Jenifa, Omo Ghetto, Moms at War, Maami, Apaadi, Chief Daddy
• Marital status – Married (JJC Skillz)
• Children – 2 (Twins)
★ Early Life, Background & Education
Funke Akindele was born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria on the 24 of August 1977. She's the 2nd of her parent's three children (2 females, 1 male). Her biological father is a retired high school principal, while her mother is a medical practitioner. Jenifa (her most famous character in a movie).
She attended Grace Children Schools (in her early years as a toddler) situated in Gbagada, Lagos State, while her primary and secondary school education was in the popular Lagos State Model College, Igbo-Kuta. She obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Ogun State. Subsequently, she added a Law degree to her portfolio from the University of Lagos.
★ Career
After completing her education, she decided to pursue her true passion – acting, even while still a practicing lawyer. She first featured in a formerly-popular "I Need to Know" series, off the United Nations Population Fund (UNFA)–sponsored sitcom. Here she played the role of Bisi, a curious but brilliant secondary school student. This movie was produced to enlighten the public on specific issues teenagers are faced with while maturing.
Her big breakthrough came in 2008 when she appeared in the blockbuster movie – Jenifa, which still remains her most famous movie. In the comedy-drama movie, she played the main character – Jenifa, a 'local girl' from the village who traveled all the way to Lagos in search of a 'greener pasture.' On the official release of this movie, many gave accolades to the producers and acts in the film, as it was entertaining and hilarious at the same time.
'Jenifa' inspired her well-known TV series – Jenifa's Diary. Jenifa's Diary, which has become a household name, saw features of talented artists such as Falz The Bad Guy (Folarin Falana), Lota Chukwu, popular OAP, and TV personality Lolo, amongst others.
Fun fact: In January 2018, a controversy made headlines, reporting that Funke Akindele would get her Hollywood debut in Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War as she was listed as a member of the cast IMDb.
According to IMDb, many Nigerian media companies reported that Jenifa was set to star in Infinity War as the guard – Dora Milaje. A few weeks later, her name was replaced with that of fellow Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji, with Funke Akindele's upload shown to have been a hack by fans just to get the actress trending and excited. All for what I ask? Later in February 2018, former Senate President – Dr. Bukola Saraki advised Marvel Studios to feature Akindele in Infinity War, believing a highly celebrated icon like her would be tremendous.
Funke Akindele is currently the CEO and founder of Scene One Film Production. Her directorial debut was in the 2019 political drama film – Your Excellency.
★ Charity Initiative
Funke Akindele presently runs a nongovernmental organization named after her first movie breakthrough – the Jenifa foundation. The foundation aims to empower and provide many young people with vocational skills to become a better version of themselves. It also helps grow talents such as acting, music, dancing, etc.
★ Endorsements
Funke Akindele has signed countless ambassadorial deals with local and international brands such as Dettol, Iroko TV, Keystone Bank, Waw, Omo, etc.
★ Personal Life
Funke Akindele got married to Oloyede, a Lagos-based Nigerian businessman, in 2012, but the marriage lasted for only 413 days over domestic abuse.
However, in 2016, the actress found love again and immediately tied the knot with a music star, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, in London in May 2016.
Fun fact: Her pregnancy rumors with JJC Skillz came out as one of the top searched results on Google. In August 2017, Funke Akindele finally had a fruit of the womb, with two bouncing baby boys (twins) in December 2018.
★ Most Recent Controversy
In April 2020, Funke Akindele was arrested and charged in court for hosting a party in honor of her husband's birthday during the period of an imposed lockdown (to tackle coronavirus). She later appeared in a "Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)" video to raise awareness about the 2020 worldwide pandemic rage – Covid-19. Meanwhile, after the actress and her husband pleaded guilty to violating the lockdown order imposed by the Lagos State government, the duo (Funke Akindele and her husband) were sentenced to 14-day community service.
★ Popular Movies
• Jenifa (2008)
• Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020)
• Omo Ghetto (2010)
• Your Excellency (2019)
• Chief Daddy (2018)
• Industreet (2017)
• Moms at War (2018)
• Who's the Boss (2020)
• The Return of Jenifa (2011)
• Isoken (2017)
• Maami (2011)
• A Trip to Jamaica (2016)
• Apaadi (2009)
• Dwindle (2021)
• Married but Living Single (2012)
• New Horizons (2014)
• Gone to America (2017)
• Egg of Life 1&2 (2003)
• Dwindle (2021)
• Ladies Gang (2011)
★ Record holdings
Her 2020 movie – 'Omo Ghetto: The Saga,' currently holds the highest-grossing-movie-of-all-time record in Nigeria. The movie broke the 4-year record of Kemi Adetiba's highly appreciated film titled – 'The Wedding Party.
After spending 3 weeks as the number one movie in Nigeria, according to the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the movie grossed N468,036,300. How remarkable is that? In just 3 weeks!! Kudos to Funke and her entire movie production team.
★ Awards & Recognitions
• Africa Movie Academy Award – "Best Actress in a Leading Role" (2009)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards – "Best Actress" (2009)
• Best of Nollywood Awards – "Best Actress in a Leading Role (Yoruba)" (2010)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards – "Best Actress" (2012)
• Nollywood Movies Awards – Best Actress (Indigenous)" (2012)
• Best of Nollywood Awards – "Best Actress (English)" (2012)
• Zulu African Film Academy Awards – "Best Actress" (2012)
• Nollywood Movies Awards – "Best Actress (Leading Role)" (2013)
• Nollywood Movies Awards "Best Actress (Indigenous)" (2013)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards – "Best Actress (Leading Role)" (2014)
• Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards – "Best Actress (Comedy)" (2014)
• ELOY Awards – "Brand Ambassador of the Year" (2014)
• Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards – "Best Actress In Comedy Role" (2016)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards – "Best Actress Series" (2016)
• Naija FM Awards – "Sitcom Of The Year" (2016)
• Naija FM Awards – "Best Actress in Comedy."
• Africa Entertainment Legend Awards – "Best Actress of the Year."
• Ghana Movies Awards – "Best Actress in an Africa Collaboration" (2016)
• Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards – "Best TV Series" (2017)
• Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards – "Best Actress in a Comedy Movie or TV Series " (2017)
• Nigeria Entertainment Awards – "Best Lead Actress" (2017)
• Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards – "Best Actress in a comedy" (2020)
• Net Honours – "Most Popular Actress" (2021)
• Net Honours – "Most Searched Actress" (2021)
• Africa Movie Academy Awards – "Best Actress in a Leading Role" (2021)
★ Net worth
Being one of the most talented and gifted actresses in Nigeria, Funke Akindele is worth $4 million. Her several endorsement deals and income streams are more than enough to get her to her current net worth.
Well, there you have it. Make sure you check out our other blog posts for more information about the crypto market and trending entertainment headlines. Thanks for reading!