Nollywood superstar, Funke Akindele, has opened up about the immense sacrifices she made on her path to success.
In a recent interview, the 48-year-old actress and mother of two revealed that she had to forgo many personal pleasures to build the empire she enjoys today. Akindele shared that she locked herself away in Amen Estate for three years, focusing solely on creating content that would later become her pride and brand.
She admitted sacrificing social gatherings, events, vacations, and personal time during this period.
“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 to achieve the success many now see. So, when I say putting in the hard work, I don’t say it carelessly; I mean putting in the real hard work.”
Akindele also emphasized her hands-on approach on set.
“When I am on the set of my films, I am not a diva. I am everywhere, very hands-on, no wig, just on my rough cornrows, making sure everything is in perfect order. I go through all that until the work is done, and then we can start preparing for marketing and all the glam and dancing. So, it’s hard work that turns into success.”
Her story is a reminder that behind every successful celebrity is dedication, sacrifice, and countless hours of effort that fans rarely see.