Funke Akindele Recalls How Pivotal Role in UN-Sponsored TV Series Earned Her First N1 Million in 1999

Veteran Nigerian actress and highly successful filmmaker, Funke Akindele, recently shared the story of how she earned her first N1 million in 1999, a significant milestone that launched her decades-long career in Nollywood.

Akindele revealed that her breakthrough came from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored television series, I Need to Know, where she starred as Bisi, an intelligent teenager navigating complex social and health issues.

The actress, who was between 21 and 24 years old while the show aired from 1998 to 2002, initially almost lost the pivotal role. She recalled that after shooting the pilot episode, producers criticized her delivery, saying she was not “sounding like a teenager.” Determined not to lose the opportunity, Akindele went home, practiced extensively with her younger sister to perfect her tone and delivery, and was subsequently called back.

This refined performance secured the role and ultimately opened major doors for her career, through which she earned the significant sum.

The N1 million earning in 1999 was substantial, equivalent to approximately $10,000 at the time, given the naira’s exchange rate of around N99.26 per U.S. dollar. Akindele revealed she first showed the cheque to her mother, who advised her to pay her tithe and save.

The experience allowed her to improve her wardrobe, with the actress noting that the “girl who once had nothing suddenly had options.” Akindele credits this early success with instilling the values of discipline and self-improvement that have defined her career ever since.

Since her early days on I Need to Know, Akindele has evolved into Nollywood’s most bankable filmmaker under her Scene One Productions. Her dominance is evidenced by her four major box office hits, which have collectively generated over N4 billion in revenue. Her films—Everybody Loves Jenifa (N1.8 billion), A Tribe Called Judah (N1.5 billion), Battle on Buka Street (N668 million), and Omo Ghetto: The Saga (N636 million)—rank as three of Nigeria’s all-time top three highest-grossing films, with three also ranking high in the top 10 highest-grossing movies in their opening weekend.