Funke Akindele Reveals the High Cost of Making 'Everybody Loves Jenifa'

## Ghana Filming and Production Logistics Drive Up Costs
Funke Akindele's revelation sheds light on the growing financial demands of making films in Nollywood. She reveals that Everybody Loves Jenifa is the most expensive production of her career, with filming across Nigeria and Ghana, which accounts for much of the expense.
Akindele, while speaking to CNN Africa's Larry Madowo, explained that the cast and crew traveled to Ghana to shoot scenes at Safari Valley Resort, a location she described as expensive. She further stated that the cost of making the film is more than the air tickets of moving a large team across borders, but also the cost of accommodation, local transport, feeding and coordination.

Akinndele said she prefers to build sets, rather than to shoot in people's homes. She said that makes a filmmaker gain greater control over a scene’s look and feel, but renting or acquiring a location and constructing a purpose-built set also require substantial spending.
Of high significance is the Ghana-Nigeria production. This shows that Nollywood projects can use location and talents across West Africa, despite the cost of cross-border production. Akindele included Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah alongside Nigerian stars, reflecting regional connection.

## What Big-Budget Films Mean for Nollywood
Though Akindele did not disclose the production budget, the commercial result is clear: Everybody Loves Jenifa was released in December 2024 and grossed about ₦1.88bn in Nigerian cinemas.
For Nollywood, big-budget films can mean ambitious locations, larger productions and stronger competition for audiences. They also carry greater financial risk in that expensive films need substantial ticket sales and other distribution income to recover costs. However, bigger budgets do not guarantee success, but careful planning, audience appeal and effective distribution must work together.

Akindele’s revelation makes the entertainment business easier to see, stating that every flight, hotel stays and constructed set has a price. She explains that such projects create cork for local crews, suppliers, transport operators and hospitality businesses in both countries.