Spotlighting Remarkable Women and Girls

Funke Akindele’s Bold Strokes

By Emmanuella Abraham

Throwbacks are like little time machines; they take us back to where we started and remind us of how far we’ve come. Most of the time, we look back, maybe laugh a little, and think, “Wow, we actually did that!”

Today’s not Throwback Thursday, but we’re feeling that same vibe. Although we’re not reflecting on our own journey, we’re reminiscing about the first movies that made us fall in love with Funke Akindele, from where she began to becoming the powerhouse she is today. It’s a fun, and touching reminder that beginnings don’t have to be flashy or perfect. She shows us that where you begin doesn’t define where you’ll end, it’s the courage to start that truly changes everything.

Funke Akindele, fondly referred to as “Jenifa” after her breakout role, is a Nigerian actress, filmmaker, and entrepreneur who has become a household name. Known for her creativity and exceptional storytelling, Akindele has successfully carved a niche for herself in the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood. With more than two decades in the industry, her journey has been outstanding.

Breaking the Box Office

Funke Akindele’s achievements in Nollywood are unparalleled. As the first and only Nigerian filmmaker to surpass ₦1 billion in box office sales, she has solidified her position as a trailblazer. Her films, such as Omo Ghetto: The Saga and Battle on Buka Street, have repeatedly broken box office records. In 2023, her movie A Tribe Called Judah set a new milestone, generating over ₦122 million in its opening weekend alone. These numbers highlight her mastery of understanding audience preferences and creating cinematic experiences that have universal appeal.

A Pioneer of Strategic Marketing

Akindele’s marketing strategies for her films are nothing short of genius. For A Tribe Called Judah, she implemented a widespread street advertising campaign, utilizing over 200 lamp posts across Lagos, a bold and effective move. Her ability to leverage her massive social media following of over 16 million people further amplifies the reach of her projects. Beyond traditional marketing, she engages celebrities to create buzz and uses multi-ethnic casting to attract a diverse audience, making her films relatable across Nigeria’s rich cultural spectrum.

Beauty With Purpose

Beyond her professional achievements, Funke Akindele is celebrated for her elegance and grace. She personifies beauty with purpose, showing that success is not merely about external appearances but about the values and passion one brings to their work. Akindele’s commitment to originality and her vibrant personality have inspired countless women to embrace their individuality while pursuing excellence.

A Role Model with a Difference

Akindele’s influence extends the entertainment industry. She is an advocate for women’s empowerment and representation in the film industry. Through her production company, Scene One Productions, she mentors aspiring actors and filmmakers, providing opportunities for talent development and creating a platform for diverse storytelling. Her efforts contribute to changing the stereotype on women in Nollywood, showcasing them as both creators and leaders.

The Bold and Beautiful Icon

It’s impossible not to be inspired by her story. She affirms that success is attainable through determination and doing the things many women only wish to do. Funke has indeed defied the odds through her performances, record- breaking films, and impactful mentorship. She continues to leave an indelible mark on Nollywood and beyond. Her journey continues to remind us that beauty lies in the courage to dream and the tenacity to achieve those dreams. Funke Akindele is not just a star; she is a guiding light for those who dare to shine brightly and do great work.

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Raising Women Magazine Issue 54 – October 2026

“Because you’re a girl.”
Four little words that have spent generations doing an extraordinary amount of damage. Apparently, ambition, intelligence and audacity were once considered rather unladylike.
Fortunately, the girls featured in our 54th edition missed that memo.
As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, we spotlight twelve remarkable girls rewriting the rules, while reminding ourselves that a girl should not need extraordinary achievements to deserve ordinary opportunities.
We also explore the expectations that complicate girlhood, the childhood wounds we carry into adulthood and, in my Find Her Light reflection, why the girl I once was might have a few lessons for the woman I have become.
Perhaps our greatest responsibility is not simply raising girls to conquer the world, but ensuring they never have to shrink themselves to belong in it.
Because you’re a girl?
What a wonderful reason to dream without limits.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 53 – September 2026

Apparently, saving the planet comes with a shopping list. Solar panels, electric cars, sustainable fashion and, preferably, a bank account that understands the assignment.

In Issue 53, our cover woman, Professor Joyashree Roy, challenges us to reconsider what sustainability really costs, who pays, and why the cheapest choices today may leave tomorrow’s generations with the bill.

But this issue is also about the invisible price tags attached to everyday life. From passport privilege and the cultural expectations of a “good woman” to motherhood, personal boundaries and the delicate art of enjoying life before finishing every task, we examine the systems shaping our choices.

We also celebrate women turning overlooked problems into extraordinary opportunities.

Perhaps progress begins when we stop asking only what things cost and start asking what they are worth.

A better world should not be a luxury reserved for those who can afford it.
Happy reading!

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Raising Women Magazine Issue 52 – September 2026

This issue asks a deceptively simple question: can we save the planet without making ordinary people pay the highest price?
Our cover star, Sascha Gabizon, brings that question sharply into focus, challenging us to think about climate action not only through carbon, but through fairness, access and gender. Because going green sounds wonderful until sustainability becomes something only the wealthy can afford.
Across these pages, we follow climate change into unexpected places. Into our wardrobes, our food, our cultural traditions and even the price of our morning coffee. We also continue our important First Daughters conversation, explore what women really mean when they speak about safety, and look at 111 Miss World contestants whose purpose projects remind us that beauty today carries increasingly bigger expectations.
This edition is ultimately about responsibility, but responsibility shared fairly.
Because saving our planet cannot become another luxury.
And perhaps the greenest future is one everyone can actually afford.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 051 – August 2026

Equal. Such a small word for such a complicated idea.

In this issue, we ask a question that feels almost impolite after decades of progress: women have more rights, education, income and influence than generations before us, but are we equal? We have travelled remarkably far, yet full global gender parity remains generations away. Apparently, equality is taking the scenic route.

Issue 51 looks beyond the equal sign to what equality actually feels like in women’s lives. We follow the money, the power and, importantly, the hours women still disproportionately spend caring. We also explore women’s old financial systems, workplace design, the soft life economy and the changing meaning of opportunity
.
Progress deserves celebration. But celebration should never make us complacent.

We have opened many doors.

Now we must ask what happens after women walk through them.

We are closer.

But are we there?
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But this issue is also about the invisible price tags attached to everyday life. From passport privilege and the cultural expectations of a “good woman” to motherhood, personal boundaries and the delicate art of enjoying life before finishing every task, we examine the systems shaping our choices.

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Perhaps progress begins when we stop asking only what things cost and start asking what they are worth.

A better world should not be a luxury reserved for those who can afford it.
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Raising Women Magazine Issue 52 – September 2026

This issue asks a deceptively simple question: can we save the planet without making ordinary people pay the highest price?
Our cover star, Sascha Gabizon, brings that question sharply into focus, challenging us to think about climate action not only through carbon, but through fairness, access and gender. Because going green sounds wonderful until sustainability becomes something only the wealthy can afford.
Across these pages, we follow climate change into unexpected places. Into our wardrobes, our food, our cultural traditions and even the price of our morning coffee. We also continue our important First Daughters conversation, explore what women really mean when they speak about safety, and look at 111 Miss World contestants whose purpose projects remind us that beauty today carries increasingly bigger expectations.
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Because saving our planet cannot become another luxury.
And perhaps the greenest future is one everyone can actually afford.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 051 – August 2026

Equal. Such a small word for such a complicated idea.

In this issue, we ask a question that feels almost impolite after decades of progress: women have more rights, education, income and influence than generations before us, but are we equal? We have travelled remarkably far, yet full global gender parity remains generations away. Apparently, equality is taking the scenic route.

Issue 51 looks beyond the equal sign to what equality actually feels like in women’s lives. We follow the money, the power and, importantly, the hours women still disproportionately spend caring. We also explore women’s old financial systems, workplace design, the soft life economy and the changing meaning of opportunity
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