Bunmi Nelson regrets missing chances to support Funke Akindele

Nigerian actress Bunmi Nelson has shared her regret about not supporting fellow actress Funke Akindele when Funke was still starting her career.

Nelson talked about this during an interview with actress Biola Adebayo on the Talk to B podcast, which was shared on Sunday.

Looking back on her journey, Nelson said she never thought Akindele would reach the level of success she has today.

“If I knew Funke would go far like this, I would have held her tight,” she said.

Nelson used her story to warn others not to underestimate anyone. She pointed out that things can change quickly.

“I didn’t see Funke Akindele going far; that’s why in life, don’t underestimate anyone. Don’t look down on anyone except when you’re admiring their shoe lace,” she said.

Nelson remembered how Akindele came to her in 2006. Funke wanted to use her house as a filming location.

Nelson had always let filmmakers use her home for shoots while she was also acting in a soap opera.

“I used to give people my house to shoot. I just love it. I used to do location then, and I was also in a soap opera. Funke now approached me and said she needed a house. She even brought Mama Fali Werepe to our house then at Magodo that she wanted to shoot,” Nelson recalled.

But she admitted that she did not see the chance at that time. She would often ignore Akindele’s calls.

“The mistake I now made was I just felt… she will be calling me then, I will just ignore. I don’t know if it was my village people ooo,” she said.

Nelson feels she missed a big chance because the Nigerian film industry was not as crowded as it is now.

“I had every opportunity when Funke was calling me because the industry was not overpopulated like now,” she said.

She also mentioned that Akindele was encouraging people to join the Yoruba movie industry during that time.

“I missed that big opportunity in 2006 and 2007 because she was telling them to join the Yoruba movie industry,” Nelson said.

Reflecting on her past, the actress emphasized how important humility is.

“If there’s anything I have learned in this life, it is humility. I’m more humble now than anything else because life has taught me the hard way that nothing is constant,” she stated.