President Bola Tinubu has promised to provide a conducive environment for the Nigerian entertainment and creative industry to thrive after Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele’s latest movie ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ broke a massive record.
On Thursday, the family comedy-drama became the first Nollywood movie to hit N1 billion at the Nigerian box office.
The achievement was recorded three weeks after the movie’s release, making it the fastest Nollywood movie to hit the one billion mark.
It also became the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time, with earnings still counting, earning Akindele the ‘highest-grossing Nollywood director of all time’ title.
In a statement on Friday, presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngalale said President Tinubu “congratulates Ms. Funke Akindele on her record-setting film and commends the ace thespian for her contributions to the growth of the industry.”
The President also celebrated the “ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry” and “extols the excellence of the Nigerian creative industry.”
Atiku Abubakar, presidential aspirant in the 2023 general election, hailed Akindele, saying the movie is a “cultural gem that reflects the vibrancy and resilience of Nigerian cinema.”
“Congratulations, Funke, on this historic milestone. You have set a new standard for excellence, and your work inspires us all,” Atiku said in a social media post on Friday.
“As a nation, we are incredibly proud of Funke’s achievements and her role in elevating Nigerian cinema to new heights.”
