The Federal Government has commended acclaimed actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele following the record-breaking box office performance of her latest film, Behind the Scenes.
The praise came from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which described the achievement as a defining milestone for Nollywood and Nigeria’s rapidly expanding creative industry.
In a post shared on X on Monday, the agency noted that Akindele has maintained her dominance at the Nigerian box office, revealing that Behind the Scenes has now generated over ₦2.1 billion in ticket sales.
“Funke Akindele remains in front with Behind the Scenes. Big screens, big stars, and even bigger numbers,” the agency wrote.
According to the NOA, the film has officially made history as the first Nollywood production to surpass the ₦2 billion benchmark at the Nigerian box office, an unprecedented feat that further cements Akindele’s status as a trailblazer in African cinema.
The agency also highlighted the film’s impressive international showing, with reported earnings of more than $111,256 in Canada and $190,249 across North America. It described the overseas success as clear evidence of Nollywood’s growing global appeal and commercial viability.
Beyond Nigeria, Behind the Scenes has reportedly emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film across Africa, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The milestone equally makes Akindele the first filmmaker to top the African box office for three consecutive years, a record widely regarded as historic for the industry.
Akindele initially crossed the ₦2 billion mark on January 12, a moment that rewrote Nollywood history and positioned her as Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker to date.
The achievement was earlier confirmed by FilmOne Entertainment, which described the accomplishment as record-shattering and unprecedented within the Nigerian film landscape.
Reacting to the success, Akindele attributed the feat to discipline, faith, and an unwavering commitment to quality storytelling.
“Records are milestones, not the mission. Serve the story, respect the audience, refine the craft, and let the work earn its applause,” she said.
The Federal Government’s recognition has renewed calls for sustained policy and financial support for Nigeria’s creative sector, as locally produced films continue to command record audiences both at home and on the global stage.