January 05, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ms. Funke Akindele on her record-setting film and commends the ace thespian for her contributions to the growth of the industry.
THEWILL reports that Funke Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, shattered box office records within 21 days of its cinema release, becoming the first Nollywood film to gross one billion Naira.
The movie, premiered in cinemas on December 15, 2023, broke records by grossing over N133 million in its opening weekend. Within the first 14 days of its release, it surpassed N613 million, becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2023.
It set another record on January 2, grossing a reported N854 million within 18 days, emerging as the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever in the box office.
Reacting to the achievement, the President in a statement issued on Friday, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, 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.
Celebrating the ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry, the President said, “The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths. 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.”
About the Author
