•Funke Akindele
The National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, has honoured renowned filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele with the prestigious Nollywood Box Office Champion Award.
The award recognises Akindele’s outstanding performance at the box office, with her films “Omo Ghetto” (2020), “Everybody Loves Jenifa” (2024/2025), and “Behind The Scenes” (2026) grossing N2.7 billion, reports Saturday Vanguard.
Speaking at the award presentation ceremony held in Lagos, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NFVCB, described the occasion as a celebration of excellence and a milestone in the evolution of Nigerian cinema.
He reaffirmed the board’s commitment to promoting excellence, professionalism, and commercial sustainability in the film industry.
Husseini noted that Akindele has dominated the Nigerian box office for four consecutive years, setting new records and expanding cinema audiences. He attributed her success to her vision, discipline, strategic distribution, and deep understanding of audience engagement.
“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.
Minister of Arts, Culture, Creative Economy and Tourism, Hannatu Musawa, praised Akindele as a “phenomenon” and a trailblazer who has set industry benchmarks.
She commended Akindele’s achievement, saying it sends a powerful message that Nollywood is not only culturally influential but also economically viable.
In her acceptance speech, Akindele attributed her success to relentless dedication, strategic planning and unwavering commitment to excellence. She urged practitioners to resist selfish interests and emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration in driving industry growth.
Akindele also addressed public commentary about her promotional style, explaining that her energetic dancing was a creative and cost-effective marketing strategy. She welcomed constructive criticism and thanked the NFVCB for recognising her work.
“Nollywood is big enough for everyone,” she stated, calling on established professionals to support emerging creatives and ensure collective growth.
In her goodwill message, General Manager of the National Theatre Mrs. Akerele also praised Akindele for her resilience, humility and openness to growth. She noted that Akindele’s discipline and continuous improvement serve as inspiration to women across the industry, adding that her career trajectory could one day become a subject of academic study.
Goodwill messages came from the Audio-visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) and the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN).
