Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has confirmed that Everybody Loves Jenifa is the most expensive film she has ever produced, pointing to the cost of shooting in two countries and moving an entire cast and crew across borders. The 49-year-old made the disclosure during an interview with CNN Africa journalist Larry Madowo, which began trending on Monday and offered a wide-ranging look at her filmmaking career, her commercial success and the personal experiences that have shaped her outlook.
Cross-Border Shoot Drove Up Costs
Akindele explained that the production was split between Ghana and Nigeria, and that flying the full cast and crew to Ghana added significantly to the budget. She also identified the choice of location as a major expense, noting that scenes were shot at the Safari Valley Resort in Ghana, which she described as a very expensive place to film.
“Everybody Loves Jenifa is a very expensive film because we went to Ghana. We filmed in Ghana and Nigeria. We flew all the cast and crew to Ghana. We filmed in Safari Valley Resort. That is a very expensive place to film,” she said.
The filmmaker further revealed that she prefers to construct sets specifically for her productions rather than relying on existing locations or shooting in people’s homes. According to her, this approach involves renting or buying a space and then building the set from scratch, a practice that adds to production costs but gives her greater control over the look of her films.
“I build my set by myself. I don’t go to people’s houses to shoot. I create my set myself. I would rent out a place, or buy a place and start constructing my set there,” she added.
Despite the heavy financial commitment, Akindele said the film performed well in cinemas and on streaming platforms. She did not, however, disclose the production budget or the earnings the movie generated from digital distribution.
Box Office Success and Star-Studded Cast
Everybody Loves Jenifa was released in Nigerian cinemas on December 13, 2024, and went on to become one of the country’s highest-grossing films, eventually recording approximately N1.88 billion at the box office. The comedy-drama was directed by Akindele alongside Tunde Olaoye and featured a large ensemble cast including Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, Falz, Lateef Adedimeji, Layi Wasabi, Jackie Appiah, Omowunmi Dada and Patience Ozokwor.
The story follows Jenifa as she faces competition from a new neighbour while trying to maintain her charitable activities. The plot takes a dramatic turn when she and her friends encounter a dangerous drug operation during their visit to Ghana.
The Origins of the Jenifa Character
Reflecting on the character that has become one of Nigeria’s most recognisable entertainment personalities, Akindele said Jenifa was conceived as a village girl determined to succeed in the city, despite her limited education and unconventional command of English. She explained that she wanted to create a character whose ambition and determination would reflect the experiences of young people pursuing their dreams.
“I sat down and said to myself, let me create a character from the village that is a ‘wannabe’. She wants to be successful. She does not care if her accent is crazy. She wants to speak English,” she said.
The actress added that she regards storytelling as a means of entertaining audiences while addressing social issues and encouraging young people to believe in themselves.
“I see storytelling as a tool to show people what is happening in society, address ills and reach out to young people, to help them believe in themselves, because I am very passionate about young people,” she said.
Jenifa first appeared in the 2008 Yoruba comedy-drama film of the same title, which introduced audiences to Suliat, a village girl whose determination to succeed in Lagos often resulted in humorous situations. The character’s exaggerated accent, unconventional mannerisms and social ambitions quickly gained popularity among Nigerian audiences. Akindele won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards for her performance in the film. She subsequently released The Return of Jenifa in 2011 and developed the television series Jenifa’s Diary, which premiered in 2015, further cementing the character’s place in Nigerian pop culture.
Personal Setbacks and Public Scrutiny
Beyond her career, Akindele spoke candidly about the emotional difficulties of dealing with personal setbacks, particularly the public attention surrounding her divorce. She was first married to businessman Kehinde Oloyede in May 2012, but the marriage ended in July 2013. She later married Nigerian rapper and filmmaker Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, in May 2016, and the couple welcomed twin boys in December 2018. The marriage ended in 2022 after JJC Skillz announced their separation in June of that year, saying they had experienced difficulties for about two years.
Speaking about the emotional burden of having her private life discussed publicly, Akindele said she sometimes withdraws to cry before gathering the strength to continue with her responsibilities.
“When I cry, I lock myself in the room, break down and cry. When I am done crying, I shake myself, wipe off my tears and come back to life,” she said.
She also acknowledged that public scrutiny sometimes made her worry about being judged for her personal decisions.
“Sometimes I tell myself, you’ve made a mistake again. People are going to judge you. And really, do you care about that? Brace up, do what is right, consider yourself, your mental health, and move on,” she added.
A Shift in Priorities
The actress said her priorities have changed over the years, especially her approach to balancing her career with her happiness. According to her, she spent much of her earlier years concentrating on work, often placing professional commitments ahead of her personal needs. Experience, she said, has now taught her the importance of taking care of herself and making her happiness a priority.
“Now I am more intentional about myself, making myself happy. I have noticed that over the years, it was not about myself. You need to take care of yourself,” she said.
Akindele added that professional achievements could come and go, but certain aspects of life require consistent attention.
“In the past, it used to be about work, work. But I have come to realise that work will come and go, but some things stay when the work is gone, and that is factual,” she said.
The interview offers a rare window into the business decisions behind one of Nollywood’s biggest recent releases, as well as the personal resilience of a filmmaker whose career has spanned more than a decade and a half. From the cross-border logistics that made Everybody Loves Jenifa her costliest production to the creation of a character that has endured since 2008, Akindele’s account underscores both the financial risks and the creative rewards of building a franchise in Nigerian cinema.
