The National Film and Video Censors Board has congratulated actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele on the box office performance of her latest film, Behind The Scene, which has grossed over N2.4 billion in Nigerian cinemas.
In a statement issued by the Executive Director of the Board on Tuesday, Shaibu Husseini, the NFVCB described the achievement as another landmark moment for Nigerian cinema, noting that Funke has now recorded record breaking cinema performances for four consecutive years.
“This level of consistency reflects not only creative excellence, but also a deep understanding of audience engagement and the evolving dynamics of film production, distribution, and exhibition in Nigeria,” the statement said.
The Board reaffirmed its role as the statutory body responsible for regulating film content, distribution and exhibition in Nigeria, adding that it remains committed to recognising achievements that contribute to the growth, visibility and commercial sustainability of the industry.
In recognition of her box office run, the NFVCB disclosed plans to formally honour Funke with a Box Office Queen Award for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, with arrangements underway to present the awards at a later date.
‘We had planned to hand the awards for her ack to back performance during the last PAO Digital Conference but the filmmaker was busy and asked to receive the awards at a later day. With this feat, we will get the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa and a few top female executives to join us to make the presentation. The Minister is excited about the development’ Husseini said.
Funke has remained a dominant figure at the Nigerian box office in recent years, with films such as Omo Ghetto: The Saga and A Tribe Called Judah recording historic cinema earnings.
In a related development, the NFVCB also commended actress and filmmaker Toyin Abraham on the box office success of her directorial debut, Oversabi Aunty, which has grossed over N1 billion in cinemas nationwide.
The Board described the feat as historic, noting that the film ranks among the four highest grossing Nollywood films of all time and marks a successful entry by Toyin into film directing.
According to the statement, the success of Oversabi Aunty reflects her versatility and growing influence within the industry.
“We at the NFVCB congratulate both filmmakers on their respective milestones. We consider their achievements as strong indicators of the industry’s continued growth, resilience, and global promise”, the Executive Director concluded.
