Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele-Bello  (born 24 August 1977) popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian film actress, politician and producer. Akindele starred in the sitcom I Need to Know from 1998 to 2002, and in 2009, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She rose to fame for her role in the movie titled Jenifa which earned her the nickname Jenifa. The Omo Ghetto trilogy contributed to her fame. Funke Akindele played the lead role in the show Jenifa’s Diary, for which she was named the Best Actress in a Comedy at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice AwardsL. Again, at the 2020 and 2022 AMVCA, she took home the same award, making it her third win for the Best Actress in a Comedy category.

In 2022, she was nominated by the People’s Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, as the running mate for the 2023 Lagos state governorship election.

Early life and education

Akindele was born on 24 August 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. ^[14] She is the second of three children (two girls and one boy). Her mother is a medical doctor while her father is a retired school principal.^[4][15] She attended Grace Children’s School, Gbagada, Lagos State. She obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now known as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. She earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.^[16]

Career

Akindele came into the limelight after starring in the popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Funke Akindele played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. Funke Akindele’s big break came in 2008 when she appeared in the movie Jenifa.

In January 2018, there was a controversy when it was reported that Funke Akindele would get her Hollywood debut in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War as she was listed as a member of the cast on IMDb. Mainstream Nigerian press reported that Jenifa was set to star in Infinity War as the guard Dora Milaje, citing IMDb.  Some 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. In February 2018, it was reported that Senate President and chair of the National Assembly, Dr. Bukola Saraki , had advised Marvel Studios to feature Akindele in Infinity War.

In an interview on July 2016, Funke Akindele stated she was acting less in the Yoruba film industry at that time because of piracy. Akindele plays the lead character in the ongoing hit TV show Jenifa’s Diary, alongside Fisayo Ajisola, Falz, Juliana Olayode, and Aderounmu Adejumoke. The show is a spin-off from the movie Jenifa.^[11] The 2018 comedy film Moms at War stars Funke Akindele and Omoni Oboli. In July 2019, Akindele started a new web series, Aiyetoro Town, a spinoff from her popular TV series, Jenifa’s Diary. She is the CEO of Scene One Film Production.

She made her directorial debut in the 2019 political drama film, Your Excellency.

Political career

Akindele was nominated as the Lagos deputy governorship candidate under Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) in the upcoming 2023 elections. In justifying her nomination, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, noted that the actress will add more value to his candidacy in the 2023 general elections. Confirming her deputy governorship candidacy on Tuesday, the actress stated that her acting career must be “necessarily put on hold”.^[30][31]

Charity initiative

Akindele runs a non-governmental organization known as the Jenifa Foundation, which aims at providing young people with vocational skills.

Endorsements

Akindele has endorsement deals such as her being signed as an Ambassador to Dettol and Irokotv. In 2018, she was signed as a brand ambassador for Keystone Bank. In November 2019, she signed an endorsement deal with WAW Nigeria, a company that manufactures detergent and bar soap.

Personal life

On 26 May 2012, Funke Akindele married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede. The couple divorced in July 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. Funke Akindele married Nigerian rapper JJC Skillz in London in May 2016. Her pregnancy rumours were among the top searched results on Google search engine in August 2017. Funke Akindele gave birth to twin boys in December 2018 and has several step-children.

Controversy[edit]

In April 2020, Akindele was arrested along with her husband and charged to court for hosting a birthday party in honour of her husband during the period of an imposed lockdown (to tackle coronavirus). She later appeared in a Nigeria Centre for Disease Control video to raise awareness about coronavirus. The actress and her husband were sentenced to a 14-day community service after pleading guilty to violating the lockdown order.

Record holdings

Her movie Omo Ghetto currently holds the record of becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time in Nigeria, breaking the four-year record of Kemi Adetiba‘s movie titled ‘The Wedding Party‘.

According to a statement, broadcast by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), in January 2021, the movie grossed N468,036,300 after maintaining its number one spot for 3 consecutive weeks.

Filmography

The films of Funke Akindele are listed in alphabetical order:^[51]

• Far From Home (2022 series)

Awards and nominations[edit]

Iyabo Ojo
Born	Alice Iyabo Ogunro 21 December 1977 (age 45) Lagos State, Nigeria
Alma mater	Lagos State Polytechnic
Occupations	Actress Film director Film producer
Years active	1998-present

Alice Iyabo Ojo (Listen) (born 21 December 1977) is a Nigerian film actress,^[1]director, and producer.^[2][3][4][5] She has featured in over 150 films and has produced more than 14 of her own.^[2]

Early life[edit]

Iyabo Ojo was born as Alice Iyabo Ogunro on 21 December 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria, although her father was from Abeokuta, Ogun State.^[6] She was the youngest of three children, having two older brothers.^[6]

Education[edit]

She went to school in Lagos at National College, Gbagbada, before proceeding to study Estate Management at Lagos State Polytechnic.^[7]

Career[edit]

Having been involved in a drama group at secondary school, Iyabo Ojo commenced her acting career in 1998. She registered with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) with the help of Bimbo Akintola, also able to network to other people ^[8]

Ojo has scripted and featured in several Nigerian films. Her first role was in 1998’s Satanic, an English-language film. In 2002, she made her Yoruba-language debut with Baba Darijinwon.^[9] In January 2015, her film Silence, which features Joseph Benjamin Alex Usifo, Fathia Balogun, and Doris Simeon, premiered at the Silverbird Cinemas, Ikeja, in Lagos.^[10][11]

In 2004, Ojo started producing her own films. Her first production was Bolutife, after which she made Bofeboko, Ololufe, Esan and Okunkun Biribiri.^[2] She also divorced her husband before her fame started.^[12]

Personal life[edit]

Marrying a Lagos-based Clearing Agent in 1999, when she was 21,^[13] Iyabo took a break from pursuing her career. She gave birth to a son and then a daughter (born in 1999 and 2001 respectively), namely Felix Ojo and Priscilla Ajoke Ojo, but is now divorced from their father.^[14][2][6] She has attributed the breakup of her first marriage to marrying too young.^[15] She has spoken of her intention to stop using her former husband’s surname, Ojo.^[13]

Pinkies Foundation[edit]

Iyabo Ojo launched her NGO, Pinkies Foundation, which caters to children with special needs and the less privileged, in May 2011. She celebrated the fifth anniversary of the foundation on 1 May 2016 at the R&A City Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.^[16]

Activism[edit]

In April 2021, she strongly condemned fellow actor, Yomi Fabiyi for sympathising with Olanrewaju Omikunle (Baba Ijesha) who was arrested for molesting a minor.^[17] On 12 May 2021, she took legal action against Yomi Fabiyi (who had earlier staged a protest requesting the release of Baba Ijesha) for making “defamatory statements” about her.^[18][19] Her actions did not go down well with the Theater Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (TAMPAN), and they blacklisted her on 28 June 2021.^[20] According to Legit.ng, actor Jide Kosoko, speaking for TAMPAN, said that Nollywood filmmakers under the association will stop working with her.^[21]

Selected filmography[edit]

• Satanic (1998)
• Agogo Ide (1998)
• Baba Darinjinwon (2002)
• Okanla (2013)
• Silence (2015)
• Beyond Disability (2015)
• Black Val^[22]
• Arinzo
• Apo Owo
• Awusa (2016)
• Tore Ife (Love)^[23]
• Trust (2016)^[23]
• Ore (2016)
• Ipadabo (2016)^[23]
• Twisted Twin (2016)
• Kostrobu (2017)
• Gone to America (2017)
• Divorce Not Allowed (2018)
• The Real Housewives of Lagos (2022)
• Mama Insurance
• Beyond Disability (2014)
• Egun (2007)
• I believe (2018)
• Gangan(2016)
• Thin line (2018)
• Smash 2018
• The Alter date (2019)
• Misquided (2019)
• Fools’ day (2021)
• Under the carpet (2021)

Awards and nominations[edit]