Ini Edo Praises Colleagues, Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham, for Breaking Box Office Records

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Summary: Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ini Edo praised Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, for their record-breaking box office successes. Ini Edo described the actresses as industry titans whose level of commitment, strategising, and marketing is on a different level. 

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ini Edo has praised colleagues Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham for their record-breaking box office successes during the December 2025 cinema race.

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes made history as the first Nollywood film to cross the N2 billion mark at the African box office. The film, released on December 12, 2025, grossed over N2.1 billion, making Akindele Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker.

Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty crossed the N1 billion mark on January 26, 2026, becoming the fourth highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time. This is Abraham’s first film to reach the N1 billion milestone, marking a major career achievement for the actress and filmmaker.

Ini Edo described the actresses as industry titans in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, stating that her respect for them has increased significantly.

“I want to congratulate these industry titans, @funkeakindele and @toyin_abraham1, for literally breaking all records and pushing beyond every envelope to record these groundbreaking successes for Nollywood.. brah, my respect for these 2 has taken a hike,” she wrote.

The actress reflected on her decision to compete in the December cinema race, describing it as over-ambitious but true to her nature. 

“I knew it was kinda over ambitious of me to think I could run this whole December race, but my coconut head, I’ve always known myself to follow my gut and do as I please,” she stated.

She stated that while competing, she and her team made their mark and learned valuable lessons. “We came, we pushed, made our mark and learnt our lessons for each of you. Don’t be afraid of making that move. What’s the worst that could happen? Win or lose, we move. 2026. I fit try am again o,” she added.

Her film, A Very Dirty Christmas, was released nationwide on December 16, 2025, and grossed N134.4 million at the Nigerian box office. The movie, directed by Akay Mason and produced by Ini Edo’s Minini Empire, follows a family Christmas reunion that turns emotionally complicated.

Social media users praised Ini Edo for her gracious acknowledgement of her colleagues’ success. X user @ChiomaThewriter wrote, “This is what we love to see. Women supporting women and celebrating each other’s wins.”