Funke Akindele Shares How D’banj Helped Shape Her Career
Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele has revealed how music star D’banj played a key role in her journey to stardom. While speaking at the 2025 Media Sales Conference of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in Lagos, she shared how his advice helped her expand the Jenifa brand.
Although Funke credits God for her success, she recalled a defining moment when a club owner invited her for an event, where she met D’banj. During their conversation, he asked about her plans for Jenifa, to which she responded that she had moved on. However, D’banj insisted she should build on the brand, even giving her financial support to continue writing.
Taking his advice, Funke went on to develop more projects under the Jenifa franchise, including Everybody Loves Jenifa, which set records in December 2024. Since launching in 2008, the franchise has expanded with The Return of Jenifa, the hit series Jenifa’s Diary, and sequels like Aiyetoro Town and Jenifa on Lockdown.
Today, Funke Akindele is celebrated as the highest-grossing producer in Nigerian cinema, with her influence continuing to grow in the entertainment industry.
