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Profile
Overview
Funke Akindele
Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele-Bello popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian filmmaker, director, actress, politician and producer
24August
197724 August 1977
Born
Funke Akindele was born on 24 August 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria
11July
199011 July 1990
Early life and education
She is the second child among three siblings, attended Grace Children's School in Lagos State, obtained a Mass Communication OND from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, and later earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos, while her mother is a medical doctor and her father is a retired school principal.
11July
200011 July 2000
Career
Funke Akindele gained fame through her role in the UNFPA-sponsored sitcom "I Need to Know," and later achieved success with the movie "Jenifa," although her reported Hollywood debut in "Avengers: Infinity War" turned out to be a hack, and she is also known for her TV show "Jenifa's Diary" and her role as CEO of Scene One Film Production, while making her directorial debut in the film "Your Excellency."
11May
201211 May 2012
Personal life
Funke Akindele got married to Adeola Kehinde Oloyede in May 2012 but divorced in July 2013, later marrying Nigerian rapper JJC Skillz in May 2016, with whom she has twin boys born in December 2018, and JJC Skillz announced the end of their six-year union in June 2022, while Akindele also has step-children
11July
201911 July 2019
Endorsements
Akindele has secured endorsement deals with various brands, including Dettol, Irokotv, Keystone Bank, and WAW Nigeria, serving as their ambassador.
11July
202011 July 2020
Charity initiative
The Jenifa Foundation, led by Akindele, operates as a non-governmental organization that strives to equip young individuals with vocational skills.
11July
202311 July 2023
Record holdings
Funke Akindele's movie Battle on Buka Street has become the highest-grossing film in Nigeria, surpassing the previous record set by her own film Omo Ghetto: The Saga, with Battle on Buka Street grossing over N640,000,000 and maintaining the top spot for several weeks; Funke also holds the most wins at prestigious award shows such as AMVCA and NEA Awards, and she is the producer and director of both the highest-grossing Nollywood films, Battle on Buka Street and Omo Ghetto: The Saga, the latter of which ranks fourth and fifth in the West Africa region.
11July
202311 July 2023
Political career
Funke Akindele has been nominated as the Lagos deputy governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) in the 2023 elections, with Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran stating that her presence would enhance his candidacy, and Akindele herself confirming that she will temporarily pause her acting career.
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