Actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele recently shared insights into her career journey and the significant influence of singer D’banj during a talk at the 2025 Media Sales Conference of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) in Lagos.
While expressing her gratitude to God for her success, Akindele emphasized the pivotal role D’banj played in shaping her trajectory in the entertainment industry.
Recounting her experiences, Akindele noted that her journey began with dedication and hard work, culminating in the release of her breakthrough project, “Jenifa,” in 2009, which she described as a turning point for her career.
During this period, the actress was approached by a club owner to host her at an event, where she first met D’banj.
In their conversation, Akindele said D’banj recognized the potential of the “Jenifa” brand and advised her against moving on too quickly to new projects.
He encouraged her to capitalize on her success and continue developing the brand. D’banj also generously provided her with financial support to further her creative endeavors.
She said, “Nobody made me a star, only God. I wrote my script, and that was it. The first ‘Jenifa’ was released in 2009, which was the turning point.
“Amidst the buzz, a club owner reached out to host me at his club, and I met D’banj there.
“He asked what I was doing with the ‘Jenifa’ brand. I said, ‘I have moved on. I will do another thing.’ He said, ‘No. You have to milk it. It should not go like that. That’s a brand. Go and write another script.’ He gave me some money, and I went back and continued writing”.
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