Funke Akindele Biography: Early Life, Career, Films, Husband, Net Worth

Akindele-Bello Olufunke Ayotunde (born August 24, 1977), better known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a skilled Nigerian film actress, businesswoman, and producer. From 1998 until 2002, she starred in the sitcom I Need to Know, and in 2009, she received the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

She became famous for her role in the film Jenifa, which earned her the nickname Jenifa. The Omo Ghetto trilogy helped her gain popularity. Akindele is the most nominated actress/filmmaker at the AMVCA, and she has the most victories as an actress, with six. She is the second director to earn over a billion naira at the box office and presently holds the record for the highest-grossing director in Nigeria with over ₦4.7 billion.

In 2022, the People’s Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, nominated her as his running mate in the 2023 Lagos state governorship election.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) named her as Nigeria’s National Goodwill Ambassador in December 2024, coinciding with World AIDS Day.  Her position will be critical in achieving a positive effect and success in HIV prevention throughout Nigeria.

Funke Akindele Biography

Funke Akindele was born on August 24, 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. She is the second of three children (two daughters and one son). Her mother is a medical doctor, and her father is a retired school principal. She also has a sister, Abimbola Maria Akindele.

Funke Akindele attended Grace Children School in Gbagada, Lagos State. She earned an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, which is currently known as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. She obtained a law degree from the University of Lagos.

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Career

Akindele rose to prominence after appearing in the popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, which aired from 1998 to 2002.

Funke Akindele portrayed Bisi, an inquisitive yet highly clever secondary school student. Funke Akindele’s breakthrough came in 2008, when she starred in the film Jenifa. In 2010, she starred in the gangster two-parter Omo Ghetto, a cult hit that had a significant impact on Yoruba pop culture at the time.

She has now gone on to create and feature in several Yoruba films, cementing her reputation as a household name in the region. In 2013, Akindele fully entered what is known as the English sector of the industry, gaining followers in the country’s east as well as across the board.

In a July 2016 interview, Funke Akindele revealed that she was performing less in the Yoruba cinema industry due to piracy. Akindele starred in the television series Jenifa’s Diary alongside Fisayo Ajisola, Falz, Juliana Olayode, and Aderounmu Adejumoke. The show was a gentle relaunch of the film Jenifa.

Moms at War, a 2018 comedy film, stars Funke Akindele and Omoni Oboli. In July 2019, Akindele launched a new web series called Aiyetoro Town, which is a spin-off of her successful TV show Jenifa’s Diary. She was the previous CEO of Scene One Film Productions.

She made her directorial debut with the 2019 political drama film Your Excellency. Akindele, together with Daniel K. Daniel and Blessing Egbe, was invited to become a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, also known as the Oscars, in 2022.

In 2025, The Hollywood Reporter named her one of the most significant women in worldwide movies. Funke Akindele has often been likened to Taraji P. Henson, an American actress. This comparison has sparked controversy after Nigerian content producer and actor Enioluwa Adeoluwa came out against the comparisons between the two actresses.

Political career

Akindele was nominated for Lagos deputy governorship by the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) in the 2023 elections. Justifying her nomination, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, also known as “Jandor,” stated that the actress contributed value to his candidacy in the 2023 general elections. The actress confirmed her deputy governorship campaign and indicated that her acting career must be “necessarily put on hold”.

List of Funke Akindele movies

• Final Whistle
• Final Whistle 2
• Sharon Stone
• Sharon Stone 2
• Egg of Life
• Egg of Life 2
• Kádàrá Mi
• Atlanta
• Atlanta
• Botife
• Agbara Ifẹ
• 13th Day: Ọjọ Kẹtala
• 13th Day: Ọjọ Kẹtala 2
• Narrow Path
• Kosefowora
• Oṣuwọn Ẹda
• Agbe Fo
• Agbe Fo 2
• Oreke Mulero
• Ọdún Nbaku
• Maku
• Ẹdujọbi
• Ẹdujọbi 2
• B’aye Ṣe Nlọ
• Ọba Irawọ
• Okùn Ìfẹ Yí
• Egun
• Akandun
• Kàkàkí L’oku
• Kàkàkí L’oku 2
• Taiwo, Taiwo
• Taiwo, Taiwo 2
• Ajẹ̀ Mẹtta
• Ajẹ̀ Mẹtta 2
• Apoti Orogún
• Jenifa
• Àtànpàkò Mẹta
• Ọmọ Pupa
• Bolode O’ku
• Farayola
• Jenifa 2
• Anointed Liars
• Anointed Liars 2
• Iro Funfun
• Iro Funfun 2
• Ija Ọla
• Ija Ọla 2
• Ọmọ Ìyá Kan
• Apaadi
• Apaadi 2
• Omo Ghetto
• Omo Ghetto 2
• Sherikoko
• White Hunters
• Ogun Àìkú
• Maami
• The Return of Jenifa
• Jelili
• The Perfect Church
• Ladies Gang
• Ladies Gang 2
• Kujenra
• Kujenra 2
• Married but Living Single
• A Wish
• Dirty Diamond
• Wisdom of Thomas
• Emi Abata
• Living Nightmares
• Oga On Top
• Jujuwood
• Agnetta (O’mpa)
• Angelina
• The Fighter
• Barren Women
• Azonto Babes
• The Return of Sherikoko
• New Horizons
• Pretty Liars
• Madam Tyson
• Chibundu
• Mr Potosky
• Love Wahala
• Fight For Peace
• One Fine Day
• Uncle Oyibo
• A Trip to Jamaica
• Isoken
• Double Trouble
• Moms at War
• Chief Daddy
• Unmendable
• Your Excellency
• Who’s The Boss
• Omo Ghetto: The Saga
• Dwindle
• Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke
• Battle on Buka Street
• No Way Through
• A Tribe Called Judah
• House of Ga’a
• Everybody Loves Jenifa
• Reel Love
• Finding Me

Funke Akindele husband

On May 26, 2012, Funke Akindele married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede. The pair got divorced in July 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. Funke Akindele and Nigerian rapper JJC Skillz married in London in May 2016. Her pregnancy rumors were among the most popular searches on Google in August 2017.

On June 30, 2022, JJC Skillz announced the termination of his six-year union with the popular actress via his official Instagram handle. Funke Akindele gave birth to twin sons in December 2018, and she has other stepchildren.

Akindele was arrested in April 2020, along with her husband, JJC Skillz, and charged with holding a birthday celebration for him during a coronavirus lockdown. She then starred in a Nigerian Centre for Disease Control film to promote awareness about the illness. The actress and her husband were sentenced to 14 days of community service after pleading guilty to breaking the lockout order.

Funke Akindele net worth

Funke Akindele, a renowned actress and producer, with a net worth of $3.5 million. She is one of the wealthiest actresses in Nigeria. Funke Akindele has sponsorship arrangements, including being named an Ambassador for Irokotv.

Social Media

Instagram: @funkejenifaakindele

Twitter: @funkeakindele