PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nollywood actress Funke Akindele on the feat achieved by her film “A Tribe Called Judah”.

On Thursday, January 4, the film hit a new record, becoming the first Nollywood film to gross N1 billion at the box office.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu commended Akindele for her contributions to the growth of the entertainment industry.

He also lauded the greatness of Nigeria’s creative industry, recognising its important role as a vehicle not only for artistic expression but also a source of export.

“The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths. It is an industry that is crucial to my administration,” the President stated .

He further commended Nigerians for their unwavering support and patronage of homegrown creative initiatives, promising to help the industry prosper even more.

Tinubu celebrated the ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry.

In the first weekend of its release, “A Tribe Called Judah” became the first Nollywood film to gross over N113 million.

Similarly, three weeks after its release, the film grossed N854 million, making Akindele hold the record for the top three highest-grossing Nollywood films.

As reported by The ICIR, Akindele has maintained a successful three-year sequence of top-grossing films in Nigeria.

Her movie, ‘Omo Ghetto the Saga’ had a total gross of N636 million in 2020, while her 2022 film, ‘Battle on Buka Street’ grossed N668 million.