Funke Akindele facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Funke Akindele
Funke Akindele at the 2020 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
Born	Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde (1977-08-24) 24 August 1977 (age 47) Lagos State, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Other names	Jenifa
Alma mater	Moshood Abiola Polytechnic University of Lagos
Occupation	Actress film producer director
Years active	1998–present
Political party	PDP

Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele (born August 24, 1977), known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a famous Nigerian actress, director, and producer. She is also a politician.

Funke Akindele first became well-known for her role in the TV show I Need to Know from 1998 to 2002. In 2009, she won a big award, the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for her movie Jenifa. This movie made her very popular.

She continued playing her famous character, Jenifa, in the 2011 movie The Return of Jenifa. Later, she starred in the TV series Jenifa's Diary, which was a new version of the Jenifa story. For this show, she won the Best Actress in a Comedy award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022. This means she has won this award five times!

Funke Akindele is the actress and filmmaker with the most nominations at the AMVCA. She also holds the record for the most wins as an actress, with six awards. She is one of the top directors in Nigeria, with her movies earning over ₦4.3 billion. This makes her the highest-grossing director in Nigerian box office history.

In 2022, she was chosen by the People's Democratic Party to run as the deputy governor for Lagos state in the 2023 elections. In December 2024, the UNAIDS named her a National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria. Her job is to help promote HIV prevention across the country.

About Funke Akindele

Early Life and School

Funke Akindele was born on August 24, 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. She is from the Yoruba ethnic group. She is the second of three children in her family. Her mother was a doctor, and her father was a retired school principal.

She went to Grace Children's School in Gbagada, Lagos State. Funke studied Mass Communication at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. Later, she earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.

Her Acting Journey

Funke Akindele became famous after starring in the TV show I Need to Know. This show was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It ran from 1998 to 2002. In the show, Funke Akindele played Bisi, a smart high school student. Her big break came in 2008 with the movie Jenifa.

In 2010, she starred in the two-part film Omo Ghetto. This movie became very popular and influenced Yoruba pop culture. Since then, she has produced and starred in many successful Yoruba films. This made her a household name in the region.

In 2013, Funke Akindele started working more in the English-speaking part of the Nigerian film industry. This helped her gain fans all over the country. She played the main character in the TV show Jenifa's Diary. This show was a new version of her movie Jenifa. In 2018, she starred in the comedy film Moms at War with Omoni Oboli. In 2019, she started a new web series called Aiyetoro Town. This show was a spin-off from Jenifa's Diary. She used to be the CEO of Scene One Film Production.

She directed her first movie in 2019. It was a political drama called Your Excellency. In 2022, Funke Akindele was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This group is famous for the Oscars awards. She became a voting member.

Stepping into Politics

Funke Akindele was chosen as the deputy governorship candidate for Lagos in the 2023 elections. She ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria). Her running mate, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, believed she brought a lot of value to their campaign. Funke Akindele said that her acting career had to be put on hold for her political role.

Helping Others

Funke Akindele started a non-profit group called the Jenifa Foundation. This foundation helps young people learn useful skills for jobs.

Brand Endorsements

Funke Akindele has many endorsement deals. She has been an ambassador for brands like Dettol and Irokotv. In 2018, she became a brand ambassador for Keystone Bank. In November 2019, she signed a deal with WAW Nigeria, a company that makes washing detergent and soap.

Her Family Life

Funke Akindele married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede in May 2012. They later separated in July 2013. In May 2016, Funke Akindele married Nigerian rapper JJC Skillz in London. Their marriage ended in June 2022. Funke Akindele gave birth to twin boys in December 2018. She also has several step-children.

Amazing Achievements

In 2025, Funke Akindele's movie Everybody Loves Jenifa became the highest-grossing Nigerian movie of all time. It broke the record set by her own movie, A Tribe Called Judah.

She has won the most awards at shows like the AMVCA and the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Funke Akindele is the producer and director of the four highest-grossing Nollywood movies ever. These include Everybody Loves Jenifa, A Tribe Called Judah, Battle on Buka Street, and Omo Ghetto: The Saga.

Movies and TV Shows

Awards and Recognitions

Images for kids

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  Funke Akindele at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards

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  Funke Akindele at 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards

See also

In Spanish: Funke Akindele para niños

• List of Yoruba people
• List of Nigerian actresses