Funke Akindele Biography, Education, Awards, Car Collection, and Net Worth 2025

Funke Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa due to her iconic role in the TV series Jenifa’s Diary, is one of the most celebrated figures in Nollywood. Her success spans acting, producing, directing, and entrepreneurship. This post delves into her biography, education, awards, car collection, and net worth in 2025.

Biography

Full Name: Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde
Date of Birth: August 24, 1977
Place of Birth: Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian
Profession: Actress, Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, Politician

Funke Akindele grew up in a close-knit family, as the second child among three siblings. Her early life was characterized by her mother’s discipline as a medical doctor and her father’s career in education. Funke’s talent for acting emerged during her teenage years, and she pursued it passionately, despite initially studying law.

Her big break came in 1998 with her role in the sitcom I Need to Know, sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund. However, it was her role in the 2008 movie Jenifa that catapulted her to stardom, showcasing her comedic and acting versatility.

Education

Funke Akindele's educational journey reflects her determination and multifaceted interests:

Primary Education: Grace Children School, Gbagada, Lagos.
Secondary Education: Lagos State Model College, Igbo-Kuta.
Tertiary Education:
- Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic) – National Diploma in Mass Communication.
- University of Lagos – Law degree.

Although she started a career in law, Funke’s love for the arts led her to pursue acting, which has since brought her global recognition.

Who is Funke Akindele's Husband

Funke Akindele is in a relationship with JJC Skillz. Skillz is a Nigerian songwriter, rapper, and television producer.
Funke and his husband

Account Options

Funke married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede on May 26, 2012, and they divorced in July 2013 citing irreconcilable differences. She remarried Abdul Rasheed Bello, known as JJC Skillz in London in May 2016.

Funke Career Achievements and Awards

Funke Akindele's career spans over two decades, during which she has appeared in and produced numerous movies and TV series. Her contributions to Nollywood have earned her accolades, both locally and internationally.

Major Movies and Projects

Jenifa (2008)
Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020) – Nigeria's highest-grossing film.
Battle on Buka Street (2022)

Awards and Recognitions

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), 2009.
Best Actress in Comedy – Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), multiple years.
Best Indigenous Actress – Nollywood Movies Awards.
Producer of the Year – For Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
Humanitarian and Inspirational Awards – For her contributions to youth empowerment and education in Nigeria.

Funke is also a brand ambassador for major Nigerian and international companies, further cementing her influence.

Car Collection

Funke Akindele is known for her elegant taste in luxury cars. Her car collection reflects her success and penchant for quality. Below are some of the standout vehicles in her garage as of 2024:

Lexus LX 570 – A luxury SUV combining elegance with performance, valued at over ₦35 million.
Toyota Prado – Renowned for its reliability and off-road capabilities, worth approximately ₦30 million.
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon – A favorite among Nigerian celebrities, priced at over ₦60 million.
Rolls Royce Phantom – Symbolizing class and affluence, valued at ₦150 million.
Range Rover Sport – An all-time luxury favorite, worth around ₦50 million.

Each car mirrors her hard-earned success and her position as a leading figure in the entertainment industry.

Net Worth in 2025

As of 2024, Funke Akindele's net worth is estimated to be $10 million (approximately ₦8 billion). Her income streams include:

Movie production and acting.
Endorsement deals with brands like Dettol, Keystone Bank, and WAW.
Her TV series Jenifa’s Diary, which enjoys massive viewership.
Political roles, as she continues to explore new opportunities beyond entertainment.

Conclusion

Funke Akindele is an inspiring figure whose story exemplifies hard work, talent, and resilience. From her early days in Ikorodu to becoming one of Africa’s biggest stars, she has consistently broken barriers. Her accomplishments in acting, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy make her a role model for many aspiring creatives.

Her legacy as an entertainer and her growing influence in other sectors ensure that she remains a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.

Know Funke More

Jennifer decided to pursue a career in acting even though she is a trained lawyer. Acting comes naturally to her as we can all agree. One of her first movies was Naked Wire where she acted as a waitress. Her journey to stardom began when she played the role of a curious but brilliant secondary school student in a popular TV series, I Need to Know which aired from 1998 -2002. I Need to Know is a United Nations Population Fund-sponsored Sitcom program created to enlighten the public on the issues teenagers face while growing up. Funke has featured, written, and produced many Nollywood movies especially Yoruba movies, and has many hit movies to her name. Some of her hit movies are Miami, Iru Oka (Cobra’s tail), Omo Ghetto, Ojo Kerala (13thDay), and A Trip to Jamaica.

Funke Akindele is one of the richest actresses in Nigeria. As of 2020, the talented actress and movie producer is worth $3.5 million, she has multiple endorsement deals such as being an Ambassador to Irokotv.

In 2018, she was signed as a brand ambassador for Keystone Bank. In November 2019, she signed an endorsement deal with Waw Nigeria, a company that manufactures detergent and bar soaps.

Funke Akindele got her major breakthrough when she played the main character in a comedy-drama movie, Jenifa where she acted as a ‘local girl’ from the village who went to Lagos for a ‘better life. The movie was not just entertaining and hilarious but a massive success which she did well to harness the potential. Jenifa inspired her ongoing TV series Jenifa’s Diary. Jenifa’s Diary has become a household name in most Nigerian homes and features talented artists such as Lota Chukwu, Folarin Falana (Falz Da bad guy), Lolo, an OAP and TV personality.

Funke Akindele’s Blockbusters

Apaadi (2009)

Maami (2011)

Married but Living Single (2012)

A trip to Jamaica (2016)

Industreet (2017)

Isoken (2017)

Moms at War (2018)

Omoge Ghetto

Other Business Interests of Funke Akindele

Funke is not just successful in acting, she is also a skilled entrepreneur. She owns an acting school, Scene One School of Drama. Scene One School of Drama teaches aspiring actors, producers, and dancers how to develop their talents and be the best in their creative careers. The courses offered in the school are Traditional and Contemporary Dance, Music, Introduction to Drama, Etiquette, and Manners, and much more. Funke Akindele is also the CEO of Scene One Production. Scene One Production is a content production company for television stations and movies. Scene One production also has entertainment platforms www.scene one.tv and a mobile app for watching TV series, Nollywood movies, TV shows, and music.

She has a lot of endorsement deals with different brands. Some of the brands include Lagos State Inland Revenue Service, Iroko TV, Vitafoam, Western Lotto, Sports betting company 1960 Bet, and many more. In late August 2018, she bagged a new endorsement deal with Keystone Bank, a financial institution.