Akindele bags Nollywood’s Box Office champion award as ‘Behind The Scenes’ hits ₦2.7bn

Maureen Aguta

Nigeria’s film industry recorded another defining moment as the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) formally honoured actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele with the prestigious Nollywood Box Office Champion Award, cementing her status as the most commercially successful filmmaker of her generation.

At a ceremony held at the Board’s Lagos office, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NFVCB, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, described the award as both a celebration of excellence and a statement of confidence in the commercial future of Nigerian cinema.

Akindele received the award for her record-breaking films — Omo Ghetto (2020), Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024/2025), and Behind The Scenes (2026), the latter grossing an impressive ₦2.7 billion at the box office. The Board noted that her productions have dominated cinema screens for four consecutive years, consistently expanding audience numbers and redefining revenue benchmarks.

“As the regulatory body responsible for classification and exhibition standards, the NFVCB remains committed not only to safeguarding industry standards but also to encouraging growth and professionalism,” Husseini said. He described Akindele’s achievements as proof that well-crafted Nigerian stories can achieve both cultural relevance and strong commercial returns.

According to the Board, her sustained dominance reflects strategic distribution, disciplined production planning and a keen understanding of audience engagement — factors it said underscore Nollywood’s evolution into a structured creative economy.

“This award is more than symbolic,” Husseini added. “It affirms that excellence in cinema exhibition matters and that consistency will always be recognised.”

In a goodwill message, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Creative Economy and Tourism, Hannatu Musa Musawa, represented by Mrs. Tola Akelere, described Akindele as a “phenomenon” whose creativity and resilience have set new industry standards. The Minister noted that her four-year box office reign demonstrates Nollywood’s capacity to deliver profitable and globally competitive cinema.

“She exemplifies the immense potential of Nigeria’s creative economy,” the Minister said, commending the filmmaker for projecting the country positively on the global stage.

The Chairperson of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude, praised Akindele’s originality and storytelling depth, recalling her first encounter with the actress through The Return of Jenifa, which she described as both captivating and culturally resonant.

Similarly, the General Manager of the National Theatre, Mrs. Akelere, highlighted Akindele’s discipline and openness to growth, describing her career trajectory as a potential case study in creative enterprise and female leadership within Nollywood.

Goodwill messages also poured in from key industry bodies, including the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), and the Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), all commending her commercial discipline and industry leadership.

In her acceptance speech, Akindele attributed her success to relentless dedication, strategic planning and teamwork. She described awards as motivation to push creative boundaries while maintaining professionalism.

“Nollywood is collectively owned,” she said. “There is space for everyone to grow. We must prioritise unity over individual interests if the industry is to reach its full potential.”

Responding to public commentary on her energetic dance-driven promotional style for Behind The Scenes, Akindele explained that the approach was a deliberate, cost-effective marketing strategy designed to connect organically with audiences.

She also welcomed constructive criticism, acknowledging the NFVCB’s dual role as both regulator and industry supporter.

With her sustained box office dominance and expanding global visibility, Akindele’s recognition signals more than individual triumph. It reflects Nollywood’s maturation into a commercially structured, investor-attractive sector — one increasingly positioned as a pillar of Nigeria’s creative economy.