Actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele has shared a previously untold story about Sade Balogun, the CEO of Amen Estate and how she played a crucial role in shaping Funke’s rise to stardom.
During a recent star-studded event, Funke candidly reflected on the women who have been instrumental in her career, especially Sade Balogun.
While acknowledging her late mother, Funke stunned the audience by revealing how Sade, a billionaire business mogul, has been a pivotal figure in her journey from the very beginning.
Funke recounted her first encounter with Sade, recalling how she was struggling with accommodation and self-doubt.
She described the moment Sade took an interest in her and offered an opportunity that changed her life.
“The major person who changed my story, I’m going to say it for the very first time, is the CEO of Amen Estate, Sade Balogun.
“Years ago, I came in with doubts and low self-esteem to film at Amen Estate, and I couldn’t even afford it. She saw me and said, ‘I like you.’ You wouldn’t have known she was a billionaire—she looked so simple,” Funke shared.
What followed was a life-changing moment.
Years later Sade appointed Funke as an ambassador for Amen Estate, offering her a luxurious N150 million mansion with a swimming pool for free.
The support didn’t end there. When Funke needed financial backing for her blockbuster film, Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Sade stepped in once again, providing substantial funding without asking for anything in return.
She also gifted Funke a luxury car, elevating her lifestyle and confidence at a critical moment in her career.
“Sade Balogun has been my unshakable pillar of support, a woman who saw potential in me when I was just starting out,” Funke said, honouring the incredible influence Sade has had on her journey.
The event, which brought together prominent female figures from Nigeria’s entertainment industry, sparked a powerful conversation about women’s financial independence and empowerment.
A-list celebrities like Rahama Ibrahim Sadau were also in attendance, joining the movement to shift the narrative around women’s economic power through media and entertainment.
