Nigerian actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has asserted that she does not view her divorce from her ex-husbands as a failure.
The producer disclosed that she recognizes that setbacks are an integral part of the path to success as taught to her by her mother.
Funke Akindele revealed that she embraces life and every experience as it comes. She emphasized the importance of protecting her mental health and nurturing her thriving career.
The thespian noted that she aims to live an impactful life, leaving a positive imprint on her children and the younger generation.
“My personal life – marriage, I just take it as it comes. My mental health is very important. My career is very important, darling. I have to make an impact. I have to empower a lot of people. I have to inspire young people out there,” she said.
“I have to stay strong for my children and my siblings. Why am I living? I have a purpose, so my head is up. Yes I cry, yes I break down, but after I cry, I just look in the mirror and say, ‘keep moving,’” Funke Akindele noted.
Funke Akindele got married to Oloyede, a Lagos-based businessman, in 2012, and the marriage lasted for only 413 days as issues of abuse surrounded the union.
In 2016 Funke Akindele found love again and married a music star, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz.
However, in July 2022, JJC Skillz, husband of Funke Akindele, revealed on social media that their marriage had ended after six years together and the birth of twin sons in 2018.
Together, they enjoyed a fruitful partnership, achieving milestones such as producing Nollywood’s highest-grossing movie, ‘Omo Ghetto: the Saga II,’ which raked in over N600m at the box office.
Their jointly-owned entertainment company, SceneOne Production, also birthed acclaimed shows like ‘Jenifa’s Diary,’ ‘Industreet,’ and ‘My Siblings & I.’
Also, eight months after the announcement of their separation, JJC Skillz embarked on a new chapter in his life, marrying Falilat Raji, a native of Kogi state, in a private ceremony held in Kano on 10th February.
Videos and pictures of the wedding surfaced on social media, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding narrative of their intertwined lives.
All these happened while Funke was busy running for the position of Deputy Governor of Lagos State, a position she failed to snag during the last general election.
Despite widespread speculation about the cause of the divorce, Funke chose to keep mum regarding the intricacies of their separation.
Meanwhile, the actress revealed that she found out about their divorce from a friend.
“I was filming and somebody called me and told me, I wanted to die! You know I cried and lost some good deals then. But I didn’t let it break me. Thank God for my mum who encouraged me to put more effort to work,” she noted.
Funke Akindele cautioned people to be vigilant when choosing to marry and not rush.
Tinubu Hails Funke Akindele, Creative Industry
President Bola Tinubu lauded the growing contribution of the nation’s creative industry to the economic growth of the country, even as he extolled Funke Akindele, the Nollywood filmmaker for her recent box office accomplishment.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, in a statement, yesterday, quoted Tinubu as saying: “The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths. It is an industry that is crucial to my administration. I salute Nigerians for their enduring support and patronage of home-grown creative efforts. We will provide the conducive environment for the industry to thrive further.”
The statement noted Funke’s recent work, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, grossed over a billion naira in revenue, a landmark of no mean feat. The interesting twist to this number is the fact that within a month, Akindele’s film grossed an unprecedented amount in a country with 91 cinemas and 303 screens.
“Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, was watched by film lovers in 71 cinemas across Nigeria during the holiday season. Despite these limited screens, the title still raked in N1.3 billion as of January 10, according to promoters.
“It was not only Akindele’s ATCJ that recorded a massive box office hit. During the same period, Toyin Abraham’s film, ‘Malaika’ grossed over N250 million, while ‘Ada Omo Daddy’ by Mercy Aigbe made over N140 million.”
The statement further added
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