LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigeria’s film regulatory body has honoured Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele with multiple recognitions, highlighting her influence on the country’s movie industry.
The ceremony, organized by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), brought together several prominent industry figures in Lagos, including filmmakers, guild representatives and executives from various industry associations.
In recognition of her box office achievements and audience appeal, Akindele was presented with four awards at the Ikoyi office of the regulatory body on February 27.
Speaking during the ceremony, the NFVCB Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Shaibu Husseini, explained that the actress had actually been announced as winner of some of the honours years earlier but was unable to collect them in person due to her busy schedule.
Husseini noted that several of the awards had previously been announced during the board’s digital conferences since 2020, yet Akindele’s commitments had prevented her from attending.
“We had given some awards to Funke during our digital conferences, but she was not around because it was always at a time when she was travelling. There was a particular one that was given to her in November while she was travelling, and she said, ‘Sir, when I come back, I will come and pick up the award.’ She was just to come here and meet me, and I would hand over the awards to her,” he said.
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However, the NFVCB chief explained that the board felt the moment deserved a more formal celebration.
“But Funke is not just someone who will walk in here, and I will hand the award to her. We should at least celebrate her. Even if I were not the Executive Director, I would have organized something for the awards presentation. I think it is important for us to give her flowers, to give people their flowers when they deserve it,” he stated.
Husseini added that Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, had planned to personally present one of the awards but could not attend due to an emergency meeting with the president.
During the ceremony, Akindele received the Box Office Champion award for 2020 for her blockbuster film ‘Omo Ghetto: The Saga.’ Guild representatives present at the event handled the presentation.
Her film ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ also earned two major recognitions, including the Audience Choice Award for 2024/2025 presented by Mahmood Ali-Balogun, as well as the Box Office Champion award for 2024/2025 presented by Chioma Ude.
Another honour, the Box Office Champion award for 2025/2026 for her latest movie ‘Behind The Scenes’, was presented by the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Tola Akerele.
To honor their colleague, industry personalities such as the Vice President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Dayo Amusa, President of the Association of Movie Producers, Blessing Ebigieson, Vice President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, Grace Edwin Okon, along with other stakeholders including Patrick Lee, representing the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, were present at the award ceremony.
Closing his remarks, Husseini praised Akindele’s contributions to the film sector and the commercial growth of Nollywood.
“We are here to celebrate a talent, we are here to celebrate somebody who has made this industry not only visible to the world but to tell everyone that it is possible to be in this industry and make money from the industry,” he stated.
