Posted by Chinenye on Wed 15th Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
Nollywood star Funke Akindele has shared a personal lesson from her journey to success, encouraging young Nigerians to embrace hard work and self-development.
(Funke Akindele. Photo Credit: Leadership News)
Popular Nollywood producer and actress, Funke Akindele, has urged Nigerian youths to abandon the get-rich-quick mentality and instead prioritise skills acquisition and disciplined dedication.
Using herself as a case study in a recent interview with Bella Naija, Akindele explained that she had the option of earning a living through wayward means but chose the path of hard work and capacity-building instead.
She recalled selling bed spaces while a student at the University of Lagos, noting that she even sacrificed her own comfort and physical appearance in order to earn a living legitimately.
She advised young people not to rely solely on their academic certificates, but to complement them with valuable, marketable skills.
"I could have been wayward to earn a living but I decided to follow the right path.
I was selling bed spaces in Unilag so I could survive. I was hustling. I am a hustler. That's why you see that I am so 'handsome.'
"I am very firm because life taught me. I can't do otherwise. I just want to work and earn a living. I am wired like that.
"Skills acquisition is very important. As a young woman or man, you have to acquire skills so that when there is no job, you can use your skill to make money for yourself," she said.