“Thank you so much My Governor. I truly appreciate this Your Excellency,” she wrote on her official X account.
Similarly, the box office Queen, Funke Akindele has penned an appreciation post to Nigerians and Ghanaians for helping her make history at the box office.
Funke Akindele made a whooping one billion, sixty million, seven hundred and eleven thousand, four hundred and ninety-one.
Presently on the Wikipedia Nollywood grossing table, Funke Akindele’s movies, A Tribe Called Judah, Battle On Buka Street, and Omo Ghetto The Saga are respectively the highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time.
Though she had earlier appreciated Nigerians, Ghanaians, and her Maker for their massive support for her, the mother of twins has penned a better appreciation post to them.
She appreciated them for helping her make history while noting how their comments and the massive love they showed her is one that she cannot express. However, she is grateful to them from the bottom of her heart.
A Tribe Called Judah, the latest cinematic release of Funke Akindele’s has become the first Nollywood film to surpass N1 billion at the box office leasing to commendations from notable Nigerians including the President of the country.
‘A Tribe Called Judah’ earned N1 billion in three weeks after it was released.
FilmHouse Group CEO, Kene Okwuosa, who announced the historical feat in a statement on Thursday, noted that the world is witnessing a golden era for Nigerian cinema.
“Akindele’s film has not only captivated audiences but has also proven the resilience of Nigerian cinema in the face of global streaming giants like Netflix and Prime Video,” the statement added.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday congratulated Akindele on her record-setting film, pledging to create a conducive environment for the nation’s creative industry.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu also commend Funke Akindele on her achievement.
Sanwo-Olu described Akindele’s A Tribe Called Juddah’s box office feat as an affirmation of Lagos as truly the home of entertainment, creativity, culture and Arts.
He said Akindele’s latest movie once again, has proved to the world that Funke is a creative of an uncommon talent, a woman of substance who brings her God-given talent into making theatrical and artistic magic for the pleasure of millions of Nigerians and Africans.
The Governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said the Government of Lagos State had watched closely with keen interest the trajectory of the hard-working people in the creative industry and had resolved to keep celebrating them for making the state the pride of Africa.
According to Sanwo-Olu; “What we’ve witnessed is a confirmation that our dear State remains the hub of entertainment, leisure, creativity and tourism in the West African sub-region. Funke Akindele and her colleagues in the creative industry have shown to the world that Nollywood, as an industry, resides in Lagos.
“I, therefore congratulate her for achieving this great feat, while urging her not to rest on her oars as the future remains a lot brighter than it is today.”
The latest commendation comes from Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.
While also congratulating the talented actress and producer in a post on his X handle on Saturday, Obi hailed the movie for touching on some of the complex challenges faced by many less privileged families in Nigeria, in their struggles for survival.
The former Anambra State governor said that Nollywood remains one of the biggest exports of Nigeria in the last decade.
He encouraged them to continue to tell stories that will inspire hard work, integrity, and productivity among Nigerians.
He wrote, “It is heartwarming to learn that ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ a movie by Nigerian Movie Producer, Funke Akindele, has achieved a record-breaking earning of N1 billion, in just 3 weeks of its release, thus marking a historic moment in our Nigerian movie industry.
“Nollywood remains one of the biggest exports of our country in the last decade and shows the inherent potential in our people which Akindele has copiously brought out in all her works.