Renowned actress and producer Funke Akindele has encouraged women to take control of their financial destinies by starting small businesses and managing their resources effectively.
In a recent interview with Arise TV, Akindele emphasised that women do not need to rely on men for success and urged them to believe in their own abilities.
“Whatever you have, just start something. Move. Don’t wait for the big opportunity. Even if it’s a petty business, just start something,” Akindele advised.
She challenged the notion that women cannot achieve financial success, citing examples of successful women like Folorunsho Alakija. “Who says women can’t make money? Who says women can’t have money when we have the Folorunsho Alakijas? They are made, and they are okay. The other day, I was telling myself that I have to work harder to be as rich as the Alakijas. Who says you can’t have money? You don’t have to rely on a man to make it,” she said
Akindele encouraged women to stay focused and manage their resources wisely. “You have to stay focused. The little you have, manage it. Don’t be greedy. Don’t look at what your neighbours have and say you want to have what they have. When the time comes for you to have luxurious things, you’ll have them,” she noted.
Sharing her personal experiences, Akindele revealed, “I used to buy my handbags from ‘bend down select.’ I would wash and iron them and slay with them. Even with the cheap bags, I still felt good. Just believe in yourself. And watch what you feed yourself with.”
She also highlighted the importance of avoiding negative influences. “Content that would drive you crazy, people that would say things that would upset you, toxic people—avoid them. Because you’re growing in a new space. It’s what you feed yourself with that matters. It really matters because if you feed yourself negativity, at the end of the day you would believe you can’t do it because you’re not pretty enough,” Akindele concluded.
