Award-winning Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed that her blockbuster movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, remains the most expensive film she has ever produced.
The actress attributed the high production cost to international travel, accommodation, expensive filming locations and the construction of specially designed movie sets.
Akindele made the disclosure during an interview with CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo, where she discussed the financial commitments and creative decisions involved in producing the 2024 comedy-drama.
According to her, filming across Nigeria and Ghana required substantial investment, particularly as the entire cast and crew had to travel to Ghana for several scenes.
“Everybody Loves Jenifa is a very expensive film because we went to Ghana. We filmed in Ghana and Nigeria. We flew all the cast and crew to Ghana. We filmed in Safari Valley Resort. That is a very expensive place to film,” she explained.
The actress also disclosed that she prefers building customised sets for her productions rather than relying on private residences.
“I build my set by myself. I don’t go to people’s houses to shoot. I create my set myself. I would rent out a place, or buy a place and start constructing my set there,” Akindele said.
Despite the substantial investment, the filmmaker described the movie’s commercial performance positively, noting its success in cinemas and on streaming platforms.
Released on December 13, 2024, Everybody Loves Jenifa reportedly grossed approximately ₦1.88 billion at the Nigerian box office, establishing itself among Nollywood’s highest-grossing productions.
Directed by Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, the film featured prominent actors, including Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, Falz, Lateef Adedimeji, Jackie Appiah and Patience Ozokwor.
Although Akindele did not disclose the movie’s exact production budget, her revelation highlights the scale of investment increasingly associated with major Nollywood productions.
The film’s commercial performance also underscores Akindele’s prominence in Nigeria’s entertainment industry and her continued investment in large-scale filmmaking.
