Funke Akindele

Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian filmmaker, actress, director, producer, politician , and realtor.

EARLY LIFE

Akindele was born on August 24, 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. Her mother was a medical doctor and her father was a retired school principal. She is the second of three children. She obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now known as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, and a law degree from the University of Lagos.

CAREER

Funke Akindele first gained prominence in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom 'I Need to Know', which aired from 1998 to 2002. Her major breakthrough came in 2008 with the movie 'Jenifa', where she played the title character, a role that earned her the nickname Jenifa. This led to a successful franchise, including the TV series 'Jenifa's Diary'. She is the CEO of Scene One Film Production and made her directorial debut with the 2019 film 'Your Excellency'. Akindele is the highest-grossing director in the Nigerian box office.

PERSONAL LIFE

Funke Akindele married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede on May 26, 2012, and they divorced in July 2013. In May 2016, she married Nigerian rapper Abdulrasheed Bello, known as JJC Skillz, in London. The couple announced their separation in June 2022. She gave birth to twin boys in December 2018.