By Blessing Chinagorom
The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar have extolled Miss Funke Akindele on her record-setting film while commended the ace thespian for her contributions to the growth of the entertainment industry.
According to the Presidential aide, Ajuri Ngelale in a statement on Friday, stated that the President celebrates the ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry.
Tinubu also extolled the excellence of the Nigerian creative industry, acknowledging its pivotal place as a medium not only for artistic expression but also a source of enormous soft power and viable export.
“The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths. It is an industry that is crucial to my administration.
“I salute Nigerians for their enduring support and patronage of home-grown creative efforts. We will provide the conducive environment for the industry to thrive further,” Tinubu said.
Also, the former Vice President, double as the 2023 People’s Democratic Party PDP Presidential Candidate extended heartiest congratulations to Funke Akindele for the phenomenal success of “A Tribe Called Judah”.
He said the film has not only shattered box office records by becoming the first Nigerian movie to earn 1 billion naira in domestic theatres, but it also stands as a beacon of cultural pride and the unyielding spirit of Nollywood.
According to him, “A Tribe Called Judah” is not just a film; it is a cultural gem that reflects the vibrancy and resilience of Nigerian cinema.
“As a nation, we are incredibly proud of Funke’s achievements and her role in elevating Nigerian cinema to new heights. Her success is our success, and it inspires a new generation of filmmakers and storytellers in Nigeria and beyond.
“Congratulations, Funke, on this historic milestone. You have set a new standard for excellence, and your work inspires us all”, the Vice President said.
The report has it that the Nigerian actress, Funke Akindele is on the receiving end of congratulations as her new movie, ‘A tribe called Judah’, becomes first in Nollywood to gross One Billion Naira at the box office.
The actress who achieved popularity for her role as ‘Jenifa’, in a 2008 comedy-drama, prolonged the series as a producer when she started her own version, Jenifa’s diary.
Funke Akindele also had a short stint as a politician when she ran under PDP as Deputy Governor for the 2023 Lagos Gubernatorial elections. Today, she is the first Nigerian to ever beat the record of highest grossing Nollywood movie.
The first three on the list of highest grossing movies were all produced by her; ‘A tribe called Judah’, ‘Battle on Buka street’ and ‘Omo Ghetto: The Saga’.