In this post, platinumtimes.ng chronicles the biography, career, education, politics, life story of Funke Akindele.
Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele-Bello popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa is a multitalented Nollywood actress, director, producer and politician.
Akindele starred in the sitcom TV series, “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.
Profile Summary
Name: Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde
Born: 24th August, 1977
Place of birth: Lagos State, Nigeria
Education: University of Lagos
Marital status: Married
Career: Actress, Politician
Political Party: People’s Democratic Party
Early Life
Akindele was born on 24 August 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Family
She was brought up in a Christian home, she is the second of three children. Her mother is a medical doctor while her father is a retired school principal.
Education
She schooled at Grace Children’s School, Gbagada, Lagos State before 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.
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”.
She plays the lead character in the ongoing TV show Jenifa’s Diary which is an adaption of the movie Jenifa. The 2018 comedy film “Moms at War” features 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 former CEO of Scene One Film Production.
She is the second director to gross over a billion naira at the Nigeria box office.
She made her cinematic directorial debut in the 2019 political drama film, “Your Excellency”.
Over the years, she has starred in several movies and TV series Jenifa, Anointed Liars, Blood is Money, A Trip to Jamaica, Ladies Gang, Jenifa’s Diary, Final Whistle, Atlanta, Pretty Liars, New Horizons, Blood is Money, Omo Ghetto, Aje Meta, Agbara Ife, Maami, Isoken, battle on Buka street, A tribe called Judah, My siblings and etc.
Political Career
Akindele was chosen as the Lagos deputy governorship candidate under Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) in the 2023 elections.
Injustifying 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.
Personal life
She is a Christian she runs a charity organization called Jenifa Foundation with interest in empowering the youths.
She is divorced but has children and stepchildren from her failed relationships.
She is the brand Ambassador of Dettol, Irokotv, Keystone Bank and Was, Nigeria, a company that manufactures detergent and bar soap.
She has also signed an endorsement deal with GLO, a telecommunication company in Nigeria.
She has the most win at award shows like AMVCA and NEA Awards.
Net Worth
She has an estimated net worth of over $2 million, making her one of the richest and most influential actress in Nigeria.
Recognitions
She was conferred with a national honor as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.