“Growth Does Not Happen By Chance Rather Via Intentionality” – Funke Akindele

Actress, Filmmaker, and director of two of the highest-grossing films, Funke Akindele has said that growth does not happen by chance; rather, it is built with intentionality.

Akindele spoke at the second edition of her project, The Creative Blueprint Masterclass with Funke Akindele, which aims to provide women in the creative industry with the roadmap they need to succeed across various creative circles, including film, music, and fashion.

Recalling her early days in the entertainment industry, the actress said she had no access or guidance and no clear path. Whatever path existed was rife with uncertainties.

Hence, the Creative Blueprint is reflective of her journey in the creative industry, “the things she had to figure out on her own and to provide the type of guidance and access she’d wished she had earlier for others.

Themed ‘Giving Today, Gaining Tomorrow, the second edition was inspired by the concept that “what you invest in yourself today, be it time, focus or a willingness to learn, shapes who one becomes in the future”.

“Today is not just about listening, it’s about learning, engaging, asking questions, and taking something meaningful away that you can apply to your journey,” said the ‘Jenifa Diary’ actress.

Among the handful of sessions and panel discussions held at the event were The Power of Mentorship, facilitated by Woodhall Capital President, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu; Women Creating Opportunities in Film panel discussion featuring actresses and filmmakers, Osas Ighodaro, Ruth Kadiri, Jade Osiberu and Ladun Awobokun; Making Your Money Work For You presided by Financial Investment expert, Jennifer Awirigwe, and the Music: More Than Talent panel session which featured singer Niniola, and Senior VP A&R and Creatives at Mavin Global/Kupanda Capital, Rima Tahini-Ighodaro.

Among the various sessions, several stood out, such as Hunponu-Wusu’s comments on mentorship: “Mentorship is not just about guidance but about preparation and positioning.”

“A mentor prepares you for the day of attack. They see beyond where you are and speak into where you are going,” she said.

On the other hand, filmmaker Jade Osiberu said mentorship is as simple as “speaking up for others, as was her case when veteran actress Joke Silva spoke up for her when her loan proposal was torn to shreds by the make jurors, years back.

She advised the women to ‘start from where you are, be it in the church, the neighbourhood, or social media to showcase what talent or skill you have’, then secure mentors either by internalising the feedback and ideas from your church members and friends to improve.”

On her part, Awirigwe enlightened the women on the opportunities for financial freedom available to them through the capital market and investment, which, owing to ignorance, are underutilised.

“Only a paltry 2.9 per cent of women participate in the Nigerian capital market. Your money has the opportunity to work harder than you could ever do, and that’s what investment does for us. Invest in the stock market, and there are so many platforms to help you do that. It is difficult, and you may not have much time, but the goal is to create that hunger, get that awareness that puts you in the circle to know about opportunities and key into them,” said Awirigwe to the participants.

With many such nuggets shared with the event’s female attendees, they are expected to apply them to whatever aspect of the creative industry they operate or wish to tread, just as the participants of the previous edition, who, Akindele professed, “are doing well now”.

Hence, the expansion of the programme’s content this year, with the support of its partners Wema Bank, Woodhall Capital, Red Brick PR, Dano Milk, among others.

“I didn’t have access at all initially. It was difficult for me to get to this stage. The knowledge wasn’t there like that, and I didn’t have the opportunity of seeing role models, strong women or powerful people to learn from.

“This is my own way of giving back. The more you succeed, the more you have to pass on the baton of knowledge to the younger generation. I feel I didn’t experience or enjoy this. I need to create a platform for the voices of the younger ones to be heard,” concluded Akindele.