Award-winning actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has revealed that she hustled through multiple jobs while studying at the University of Lagos in order to survive and fund her education.
Akindele, in a recent interview with BellaNaija, disclosed that she sold cakes, worked as a make-up artist, handled costuming, and also sourced filming locations.
She recalled a harrowing experience in which a customer slapped her after being unhappy with the work.
“When I was at 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,” the actress, popularly known as Jenifa, stated.
“I learnt by watching people make nails in Yaba. I would buy them, stay in the corridor, and ask people to come and get their nails done,” she added.
According to her, nail-making was just one of several hustles she engaged in as a student.
The Nollywood producer mentioned that a make-up artist, Bimpe Onakoya, used to buy cakes from her, and that she also did make-up and costume work for actresses, including Bukky Wright and Iyabo Ojo.
She said, “I was selling cakes. Bimpe Onakoya, the talented make-up artist, was buying cakes from me. She would wake me up.”
“I learnt from people making hair. I did make-up. I did costuming. I used to customise for Aunty Bukky Wright. Even Iyabo Ojo then. I would go to Yaba and buy costumes and iron them.”
Akindele further revealed that she worked as a location manager, negotiating with homeowners to use their properties for movie shoots and taking a cut of the fee.
She also admitted to selling bed spaces in UNILAG to survive.
“I was a location manager. I would go to houses and knock. If they paid the owner N100,000, I could take 30 and pay the person 70. 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,” she remarked.
