Award-winning Nigerian actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has revealed how she took on several menial jobs, including making artificial nails, selling cakes and bed space, to support herself while studying at the University of Lagos.
The 48-year-old actress shared her experience during a recent interview, describing her university years as a period of relentless struggle that shaped her resilience and work ethic.
Akindele recalled that she taught herself nail-making by observing professionals in Yaba before offering the service to fellow students on campus.
According to her, one of her earliest customers was dissatisfied with her work and slapped her because the nails were poorly done.
“When I was in the University of Lagos, I used to make nails. I made nails for a girl one day, and she slapped me because they were rubbish. I learnt from watching people make nails at Yaba. I would buy the materials, sit in the corridor and ask people to come and get their nails done,” she said.
Beyond nail-making, the actress said she ventured into cake production, makeup artistry and costume design to earn extra income while pursuing her education.
She disclosed that renowned makeup artist Bimpe Onakoya was one of her regular cake customers, adding that she also worked as a costume designer for Nollywood actresses Bukky Wright and Iyabo Ojo in the early stages of their careers.
“I was selling cakes. Bimpe Onakoya, the talented makeup artist, was buying cakes from me. She would make-up for me. I learnt from people making hair. I did make-up. I did costuming. I used to costume Aunty Bukky Wright and even Iyabo Ojo then. I would go to Yaba, buy costumes and iron them,” she said.
The filmmaker further revealed that she worked as a location manager for film productions, sourcing houses for movie shoots and earning commissions from the transactions.
She added that she also sold bed spaces within the University of Lagos community to make ends meet.
“I was a location manager. I would go to houses and knock. If they paid the owner N100,000, I could take N30,000 and pay the person N70,000. I sold bed space in UNILAG so I could survive. I am a hustler. That is why I am firm. Life taught me, and I cannot do otherwise,” Akindele said.
The actress, who has grown into one of Nigeria’s most successful filmmakers, said her experiences during her undergraduate days instilled in her the determination and resilience that have defined her career in the entertainment industry.
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