Funke Akindele

Funke Akindele is a Nigerian actress, producer and director known for the Jénífà screen franchise and major Nollywood box-office milestones. Her public work has also included a Lagos State deputy-governorship candidacy and service as UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria.

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About Funke Akindele

Profile information current to 2026-08-19.

Nigeria · Actress, Movie producer, Director · 1 affiliation

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Known for: Nollywood film and television; Nigerian film box-office records; HIV advocacy
Country: Nigeria

Actress
Movie producer
Director

At a glance

Akindele works as an actress, movie producer and director in Nigerian film and television.
Her films A Tribe Called Judah and Behind The Scenes were reported to have set successive Nollywood box-office records.
UNAIDS appointed her National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria in December 2024, with a focus on HIV stigma, discrimination, prevention and treatment access.
She contested the 2023 Lagos State election as the Peoples Democratic Party's deputy-governorship candidate alongside Abdul-Azeez Adediran.

Screen career and recognition

Akindele's career took off through I Need to Know, a UNFPA-sponsored television series about adolescent reproductive health, rights and HIV prevention. She later became associated with the Jénífà screen franchise and won the 2009 African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Jénífà.

Nollywood box-office milestones

In January 2024, A Tribe Called Judah, co-directed by Akindele and Adeoluwa Owu, was reported as the first Nollywood film to exceed ₦1 billion at the box office. In January 2026, Channels Television and Premium Times reported that Behind The Scenes had exceeded ₦2 billion and become the highest-grossing Nollywood film, citing figures and rankings attributed to distributor FilmOne Entertainment.

HIV advocacy

UNAIDS appointed Akindele its National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria on 3 December 2024. The organization describes her work in the role as addressing HIV-related stigma and discrimination and promoting equitable access to HIV prevention and treatment; its ambassador profile continued to list her in the position as of 19 August 2026.

Political participation

Akindele was the Peoples Democratic Party's deputy-governorship candidate in the 2023 Lagos State election, running with gubernatorial candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran, known as Jandor. Their ticket was defeated by the incumbent All Progressives Congress ticket led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the reviewed evidence does not establish a current party role, candidacy or elected office.

Affiliations

UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria 2024-12-03–present

Timeline

2009 Won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Jénífà.
2023 Contested the Lagos State deputy-governorship election on the PDP ticket with Abdul-Azeez Adediran; the ticket was defeated.
2024-01-05 A Tribe Called Judah, co-directed by Akindele and Adeoluwa Owu, was reported as the first Nollywood film to exceed ₦1 billion at the box office.
2024-12-03 Appointed UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria.
2026-01 Behind The Scenes was reported to have exceeded ₦2 billion at the box office and become the highest-grossing Nollywood film; the reporting attributed the figures and ranking to distributor FilmOne Entertainment.

Additional verified details

Current context

UNAIDS listed Funke Akindele as National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria. The role was confirmed through an active UNAIDS ambassador profile accessed on the observation date. The reviewed material does not state a formal term end date.

Biographical facts

Her career took off through a role in I Need to Know, a UNFPA-sponsored television series focused on adolescent reproductive health, rights and HIV prevention.
Akindele was the Peoples Democratic Party deputy-governorship candidate in Lagos State's 2023 election alongside gubernatorial candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran. Their ticket lost to the incumbent APC ticket led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
UNAIDS describes her ambassadorial work as addressing HIV stigma and discrimination and promoting equitable access to HIV prevention and treatment.