NFVCB honours Funke Akindele as Nollywood box office champion

Funke Akindele (Nigerian filmmaker and actress)

 The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has officially honored renowned filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele with the prestigious Nollywood Box Office Champion Award. This recognition celebrates Akindele’s massive commercial success, as her hit films Omo Ghetto (2020), Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024/2025), and Behind The Scenes (2026) have collectively earned a staggering N2.7 billion.

At the award ceremony in Lagos, the Executive Director of the NFVCB, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, described the event as a celebration of excellence and a major milestone for Nigerian cinema. He reaffirmed the board’s commitment to supporting professional and profitable filmmaking across the country.

Dr. Husseini noted that Akindele has dominated the Nigerian box office for four consecutive years, consistently breaking records and bringing more people into theaters. He attributed her historic success to her clear vision, professional discipline, smart distribution strategies, and her unique ability to connect with what the audience wants to see.

“This award is more than a trophy,” Husseini said. “It is a statement that excellence in cinema exhibition matters. It is a signal that consistency and professionalism will always be recognised. It also affirms the immense promise of Nigeria’s creative economy,” he said.

Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Creative Economy and Tourism, praised Funke Akindele as a "phenomenon" and a trailblazer who has set new standards for the entire industry. She noted that Akindele’s success sends a powerful message that Nollywood is not just culturally important, but also a highly profitable business.

In her acceptance speech, Akindele credited her record-breaking achievements to hard work, careful planning, and a constant commitment to high quality. She also encouraged fellow filmmakers to put aside selfish interests, stressing that unity and collaboration are the only ways to truly grow the Nigerian film industry.

Akindele also spoke about the public's reaction to her marketing style, explaining that her energetic dancing is actually a creative and budget-friendly way to promote her movies. She expressed that she welcomes helpful criticism and thanked the NFVCB for officially recognizing her hard work.

“Nollywood is big enough for everyone,” she stated, calling on established professionals to support emerging creatives and ensure collective growth.

Mrs. Akerele, the General Manager of the National Theatre, also praised Funke Akindele for her resilience, humility, and willingness to keep learning. She noted that Akindele’s discipline and constant improvement serve as an inspiration to women throughout the industry, even suggesting that her career path could one day be studied in schools.

Additional messages of support and congratulations came from several key industry groups, including the Audio-visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), and the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN).