In a congratulatory message to Nollywood star, Funke Akindele, on her box office record buster, A Tribe Called Judah, President Bola Tinubu, Friday, celebrated the ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry.
The President celebrated and congratulated Akindele on her record-setting film and commended the ace thespian for her contributions to the growth of the industry, reputed to be the second largest film industry in the world.
Funke Akindele, 46, became Nollywood’s highest-grossing director recently when her film, A Tribe Called Judah, smashed box office records, becoming the first Nigerian movie to earn N1billion ($1.1m; £900,000) in domestic theatres. And the film achieved the historic feat in just three weeks.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, the President praised Funke Akindele’s creativity, and extolled the excellence of the Nigerian creative industry, acknowledging its pivotal place as a medium not only for artistic expression but also a source of enormous soft power and viable export.
“The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths,” President Tinubu declared. “It is an industry that is crucial to my administration. I salute Nigerians for their enduring support and patronage of home-grown creative efforts. We will provide the conducive environment for the industry to thrive further.”