Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has urged young Nigerians to ditch the get-rich-quick mentality and instead prioritize skills and disciplined dedication.

Speaking in a recent interview with Bella Naija, she used her own journey as an example, revealing that she chose hard work over easy but questionable means of survival.

Akindele recalled selling bed spaces at the University of Lagos to make ends meet, often sacrificing her comfort and appearance to earn a legitimate living. She emphasized that a certificate alone is not enough, advising youths to acquire valuable skills that will set them apart.

She described herself as a hustler who is firm, wired to work, and shaped by life’s challenges.

She said:
“I could have been wayward to earn a living but I decided to follow the right path. I was selling bed spaces in Unilag so I could survive. I was hustling. I am a hustler. That’s why you see that I am so ‘handsome.’

“I am very firm because life taught me. I can’t do otherwise. I just want to work and earn a living. I am wired like that.”