Award-winning actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has shared details of the numerous side jobs she undertook to support herself while studying at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Speaking during a recent interview with BellaNaija, Akindele said she ventured into several small businesses as a student, including nail-making, cake sales, make-up artistry, costume sourcing and location management.
She recalled teaching herself how to make artificial nails by observing technicians in Yaba before practising the craft on campus. However, one of her earliest experiences ended badly when an unhappy customer slapped her over what she described as a poor job.
“While I was at the University of Lagos, I used to make nails. One day, I made nails for a girl, and she slapped me because they were rubbish,” she said, explaining that she learnt the skill simply by watching others at work in Yaba.
Beyond nail-making, Akindele said she earned money by baking and selling cakes. She revealed that renowned make-up artist Bimpe Onakoya was among her regular customers and later introduced her to make-up work.
According to the actress, she also worked behind the scenes in the film industry by handling costumes for established actresses, including Bukky Wright and Iyabo Ojo. She said she sourced costumes from Yaba, prepared them for production and gradually built a reputation for the service.
Akindele added that she also worked as a location manager, negotiating with homeowners to secure filming locations and earning a commission from the agreed fees.
She further disclosed that she sold bed spaces within UNILAG as another means of making ends meet during her undergraduate years.
Describing herself as a determined hustler, the actress said the challenges she faced while growing up taught her resilience and shaped the work ethic that has defined her career.
