Before becoming one of Nollywood’s biggest stars, actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele says she relied on different legitimate businesses to support herself while studying at the University of Lagos.
Speaking in an interview with BellaNaija, Funke revealed that one of the ways she made money as a student was by selling bed spaces to fellow students, stressing that she chose hard work over taking the wrong path.
“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,” she said.
The award-winning actress said those early struggles helped shape her character, teaching her discipline, resilience and the value of hard work. She noted that she has always believed in creating opportunities for herself instead of waiting for them.
Funke also advised young Nigerians to learn practical skills that can serve as a source of income, especially during periods when jobs are scarce.
“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 stated.
“I could have been wayward to earn a living but I decided to follow the right path, and that's why I'm so handsome.
I sold bed spaces in Unilag so I could survive. I'm a hustler.”
— Funke Akindele pic.twitter.com/ihNWk0Auww
— Proper9ja Boy (@Proper9jaboy) July 15, 2026
