Actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed how she earned her first ₦1 million in 1999, crediting the milestone to her breakout role as Bisi in the hit TV series I Need to Know.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Saturday, Akindele reflected on her early struggles and how her persistence eventually paid off.
“I made that around 1999. I started my career from like 1996, playing waka pass roles, 1997 going for auditions, getting a lot of nos,” she said while recounting the journey.
According to Akindele, her turning point came when she was cast in the educational series, which not only gave her recognition but also her first major financial reward. “Then I got one big yes with I Need to Know, and that is how I got my first ₦1 million,” she added.
However, the actress disclosed that she almost lost the role during the pilot phase due to criticism of her performance.
“I almost lost the role ‘Bisi’ in I Need to Know. I shot the pilot… I acted so well, and I was waiting for this callback. The callback didn’t come on time. I’m like, ah, okay.
“Then he just called me into the office. I’m like, okay, you’re a fantastic actress, you’re doing so well, but you’re overacting. They told me to go home and read my script, understand the character very well,” she recalled.
Determined not to lose the opportunity, Akindele said she returned home and practised with her younger sister, who helped her adjust to the teenage tone the character required.
“I was so worried. I said how am I going to do it now? Then I got home, and I was so moody, and my younger sister was like, ‘sister, what’s wrong?’
“I said I Need to Know. They said I’m not talking like a teenager.
“She said, ‘ah, let me see the script,’ and she held the script. She started reading.
“So I heard mama speak like a teenager, and immediately… I took in the character and I started speaking like mama… and that was how I got the role.”
Akindele went on to share how she spent her first ₦1 million, noting that she showed the money to her mother, who advised her to pay her tithe first before anything else.
“What did I do with one million naira? First, I showed it to my mom. Of course, she knows about it, and then mommy advised and said I have to pay my tithe first,” she said.
“I paid my tithe, then I entered Yaba because I didn’t have shoes. I didn’t have maybe two or three I had there. I didn’t have good clothes.
“I changed my wardrobe, shoes, bags, everything. The girl that had no shoes yesterday has today.”
