I regret turning down opportunity to work with Funke Akindele — Actress Bunmi Nelson

Nollywood actress, Bunmi Nelson, has expressed regret over turning down an opportunity to work with actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele years ago.

Nelson, while reflecting on her career, admitted that she did not recognise Akindele’s potential at the time and warned against underestimating people.

“I didn’t see Funke going far. That’s why in life, don’t underestimate anybody. Don’t look down on anyone except you’re admiring their shoelace.”

She added, “If I knew Funke would go far like this, I would have held her tight because I can’t even see her back now.”

According to Nelson, she met Akindele through a mutual friend, after which Akindele introduced her to Odunfa. At the time, Nelson provided houses as filming locations and had worked with people in the movie industry.

She said Akindele later approached her for a location and encouraged her several times to join the Yoruba film industry. However, Nelson said she did not take the actress’s calls and offers seriously.

Looking back, she described the missed opportunity as one she regrets, noting that the incident happened around 2006 or 2007, when the industry was not as populated as it is today.

Nelson said rumours she had heard about the Yoruba film industry also influenced her decision. She recalled being concerned about expectations around respect and hierarchy in the industry.

“I missed that big opportunity because Funke was telling me then that, ‘Ah, why don’t you come?’”

“I was telling her, ‘I’ve heard a lot about Yoruba industry. They will say you should say auntie. They will say you should kneel down. Then one person say you should carry bag!”

Nelson said she later realised that she had formed an opinion based on what she had heard rather than her own experience.

She said the experience taught her the importance of humility and not looking down on others.

“That is why you need to humble yourself in life. If there’s anything l’ve learned in life now, it’s humility.”

Nelson also apologised to Kunle Afod, Sodiq Adebayo and Funke Akindele over the missed opportunity and appealed for another chance to work with Akindele.