The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shaibu Husseini, explained the rationale behind the board’s recent recognition of acclaimed Nollywood actress, director, and producer Funke Akindele.
Akindele received four awards during a ceremony held at the NFVCB office in Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday, February 27, 2026, in the presence of numerous industry professionals.
According to the board, Akindele had been announced as the recipient of some of the awards at different points since 2020, but she had not previously been able to attend in person to receive them.
Dr Husseini noted that her busy schedule had previously prevented her from collecting certain awards.
“We had given some awards to Funke during our digital conferences, but she was not around because it was always at a time when she was travelling. There was a particular one that was given to her in November while she was travelling, and she said, ‘Sir, when I come back, I will come and pick up the award.’ She was just to come here and meet me, and I would hand over the awards to her,” he recalled.
He added, “But Funke is not just someone who will walk in here, and I will hand the award to her. We should at least celebrate her. Even if I were not the Executive Director, I would have organised something for the awards presentation. I think it is important for us to give her flowers, to give people their flowers when they deserve it. If not for an emergency meeting with the president, the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in Nigeria, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, would have presented one of the awards to Funke personally.”
During the ceremony, Akindele received the Box Office Champion award for 2020 for her film Omo Ghetto, presented by representatives of the guilds present at the event. She was also honoured with the Audience Choice Award for 2024/2025 for Everybody Loves Jenifa, presented by Mahmood Ali-Balogun; the Box Office Champion award for 2024/2025 for the same film, presented by Chioma Ude; and the Box Office Champion award for 2025/2026 for Behind The Scenes, presented by Mrs Tola Akerele.
The event was attended by numerous industry figures, including Mrs Tola Akerele; Mahmood Ali-Balogun; actress and AGN Vice President Dayo Amusa; Dr Blessing Ebigeson; Chioma Ude; CEAN representative Patrick Lee; and DGN Vice President Grace Edwin Okon, among others.
In his remarks, Dr Husseini expressed gratitude to the guests and highlighted the importance of recognising talent. “We are here to celebrate a talent, we are here to celebrate somebody who has made this industry not only visible to the world but to tell everyone that it is possible to be in this industry and make money from the industry,” he said.
