The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has honoured leading Nollywood actress, director and producer Funke Akindele with four prestigious awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions and box office achievements in the Nigerian film industry.
The awards were presented at the NFVCB office in Ikoyi, Lagos, on February 27, 2026, during a ceremony attended by several prominent figures in Nollywood.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the board, Shaibu Husseini, explained that Akindele had been announced as the winner of the awards at different times since 2020 but was unable to attend the ceremonies earlier due to her busy schedule.
Husseini noted that the actress had missed previous opportunities to receive the awards because she was often travelling when they were announced during the board’s digital conferences.
He said when Akindele eventually planned to collect them in person, the board decided the occasion should be marked with a special celebration.
According to him, the recognition was also meant to honour her immense contribution to the growth and global visibility of Nollywood.
Husseini added that the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, had intended to personally present one of the awards but was unable to attend due to an emergency meeting with the president.
During the ceremony, Akindele received the Box Office Champion Award for 2020 for her blockbuster film Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
She was also presented with the Audience Choice Award (2024/2025) for Everybody Loves Jenifa, alongside the Box Office Champion Award (2024/2025) for the same film.
In addition, the actress received the Box Office Champion Award (2025/2026) for her film Behind The Scenes.
The event attracted several key industry stakeholders, including the General Manager and CEO of the National Theatre Nigeria, Tola Akerele; chairman of the Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), Mahmood Ali-Balogun; and founder of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Ude.
Others present included actress Dayo Amusa, President of the Association of Movie Producers Nigeria, Blessing Ebigieson, as well as representatives of various industry guilds.
In his remarks, Husseini emphasised that the ceremony was organised to celebrate Akindele’s success and her role in demonstrating that the Nigerian film industry can be commercially viable.
He said the actress has helped position Nollywood as a profitable industry while inspiring filmmakers and creatives across the country.
“We are here to celebrate a talent. We are celebrating someone who has made this industry visible to the world and shown that it is possible to be in this industry and make money,” he said.