Nigerian billionaire actress, Funke Akindele has opened up on how hard work and dedication are responsible for the success she enjoys in her craft.

In a recent chat, Akindele expressed that she deprived herself of many things to achieve the success she enjoys today.

The 48-year-old mother of two confessed to depriving herself of social gatherings, events, vacations and other activities to achieve the success she enjoys with her brand. She further said she locked herself away inside Amen Estate for three years to build her brand and several contents, which are now her source of pride.

“Hard work is hard work. You work hard, putting in the work when you need to, depriving yourself of things many will go after so as to achieve the success you are aiming for. When I say hard work, I mean locking myself away in Amen Estate for three years building the Jenifa brand, working on Industreet, Aiyetoro, My siblings and I, and other content. I deprived myself of vacations, parties, events, no friends, nothing, just Me and my team, working tirelessly, creating and working hard to achieve the success many now see. So, when I say putting in the hard work, I don’t just say that carelessly, I mean putting in the real hard work.

Continuing, she said, “When I am on the set of my films, I am not a diva, I am everywhere and very hands-on, no wig, just on my rough corn rows, working hard and seeing that everything is in perfect order. I go through all that till work is done, and then we can now start preparing for marketing and all the glam and dancing. So, it’s hard work that turns into success.”

Funke Akindele broke her own record of producing the first Nigerian film to gross over one billion in the cinemas in 2024 and has gone ahead to produce the first Nigerian film to gross over two billion in the cinemas. (The Nation)