Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde (popularly known as Funke Akindele, born August 24, 1977, in Ikorodu Lagos State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian actress. She entered the limelight after starring in the popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. In 2009, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Funke Akindele plays the lead character in the ongoing hit TV show Jenifa's Diary, alongside Fisayo Ajisola, Falz, Juliana Olayode, Aderounmu Adejumoke, Lolo and more. The show is a spin-off from the movie titled Jenifa
Early life and education
Akindele was born on August 24, 1977, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. She is the second of three children (two girls and one boy). Her mother is a medical doctor while her father is a retired school principal. She obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, and got a Law degree from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba.
Career
Akindele entered the limelight after starring in popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. She played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student. Funke Akindele's big break came in 2009 when she appeared in the movie Jenifa. Funke Akindele has over 100 movies to her credit as actress, writer, and producer.
Charity initiative
She runs a non-governmental organisation known as the Jenifa Foundation, which aims to nurture talents and provide young people with vocational skills.
Endorsements
Funke Akindele has a lot of endorsement deals to her name, the most recent is her being signed as Ambassador to Irokotv.
Personal life
On May 26, 2012, Akindele married Adeola Kehinde Oloyede Citing irreconcilable differences, the couple divorced in July 2013.Akindele married Nigerian rapper Abdul Rasheed Bello, known as JJC Skillz, in London in May 2016.
