Governor Sanwo-Olu congratulates actress Funke Akindele over movie success

By Folashade Olorunfemi –

Prominent Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has received congratulatory messages from the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over the success of her latest movie, Behind The Scenes, which has set a groundbreaking record. The governor described the feat as a historic win for the Nigerian creative industry.

The governor, who expressed his congratulations via an Instagram post on Monday, accompanied the post with a video showing Funke’s meeting with him, during which they discussed the movie’s performance.

In his words, “I had the pleasure of attending a private viewing of Behind The Scenes and I want to congratulate Funke Akindele and her entire team.

“It is one thing to make a film, but another thing entirely to truly capture the heart of a nation. Seeing this work cross the ₦2 billion mark at the box office is a major win for Funke and a historic win for the Nigerian creative industry.

“Funke, your dedication to your craft and your ability to tell stories that resonate so deeply are truly inspiring to our people. You have set a new standard for what is possible in Nollywood, proving that with focus, grit and vision, our local stories can achieve global success.”

Behind The Scenes is rated as Nollywood’s leading movie in the African film industry and has also gained prominence in countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. The movie’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, had earlier disclosed this development through a Twitter post, describing the achievement as “record-breaking” and Funke as the highest-grossing writer, director and producer in West Africa. It added that, this feat reaffirms Funke’s status as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker, as she retains the box office queen title for three consecutive years.

In her response, Funke took to the comment section to express profound gratitude for the governor’s support and acknowledgement.

Behind The Scenes is a 2025 movie that explores the theme of communal obligations, examining the emotional, social and financial pressures faced by individuals burdened with the responsibility of extended family support. The movie features a stellar cast who effectively conveyed the message of the writer.