The National Film and Video Censors Board has presented filmmaker Funke Akindele with multiple awards at an event held to honour her at the board’s South West Zonal Office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Among guests at the ceremony were NFVCB Executive Director Shaibu Husseini, National Vice President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Dayo Amusa, chairman of the Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria Mahmood Ali-Balogun, National President of the Association of Movie Producers Nigeria Blessing Ebigieson, entertainment executive Chioma Ude and Vice President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria Grace Edwin-Okon.
In his opening remarks, Husseini thanked guests for attending, adding, “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 recalled that Funke had previously been unable to receive some of her awards because of her schedule.
“We had given some awards to Funke during our digital conferences but she has always not been around been around because its always at the time when she is travelling. This particular one who were to give her in November and 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 then I hand the award to her. But Funke is not just someone that will walk in here and I will hand the award to her. We should at least celebrate her. Even if I was not not Executive Director, I would have organised something. I think it is important for us to her her flowers, to give people their flowers when they deserve it.”
Funke received awards for Excellence in Promoting Indigenous Films, Box Office Champion Award for her film Omo Ghetto: The Saga for outstanding box office performance and for emerging highest grossing Nollywood film in 2020, Audience Choice Award for Everybody Loves Jenifa and Box Office Champion Award for Outstanding Box Office Performance for emerging as the filmmaker with the highest grossing Nollywood film in 2025 and 2026 with Behind The Scenes, among other recognitions.
Reacting to the honour, Funke said, “Thank you. Thank you for the honor. God will honour you always in Jesus’ name. It’s years of a lot of hard work. Hard work, dedication, perseverance, staying focused, being intentional about success. A lot of sleepless nights. A lot of hunger. It’s not because I don’t have money to eat, but because I have to finish the work before I go back to eat. So it’s a lot of work. And meeting people, seeing people celebrating you, is a blessing for me. You left your homes to come and celebrate me today, heaven will celebrate you in Jesus’ name. I want to thank you, ma. I can’t wait to come to National Theatre. Thank you. Uncle Mahmood, Thank you. You’ve been there for years. You are still here, supporting, pushing. I just learned a lesson today again that it’s not all about the show business. What about behind the scenes? What are you doing in the guild, the association? How are you part of it? Don’t be distant, okay? This is a wake-up call for me, seeing that you’re seated, being part of actors’ guild, seeing Queen, we’ve been friends for years, auditions days. And she’s so pushed. I hear you speak today. I’m so proud of you. The way you speak. Oh my God, Queen. You’re doing so well. Thank you. Seeing you, my sister, here, I’m so impressed. Thank you. This has been my guide for years. Thank you for celebrating me. Thank you so much, everybody. Members of the press, thank you. Thank you for celebrating us continually. Nollywood is what we have. Uncle has said it all. We must not bring down Nollywood. No. Don’t talk ill about Nollywood. This is where we eat from. We don’t have any other place. Maybe tomorrow if I’m going to something else. But right now, this is where I place cookies for. Yes. That is how I found the girl from. So, thank you so much, okay..”
Thanking the executive director, she added, “Thank you Uncle Shaibu. You came into the National Film Video Census Board and i can see the changes, the positivity, you are not pulling people down, you are not victimising, you are correcting us lovingly. You are supporting us.”
The NFVCB, established in 1993, is responsible for classifying and regulating films and video works in Nigeria and has continued to engage stakeholders through conferences and zonal activities aimed at strengthening the industry.
