**Funke Akindele Shares Promo Struggle Story.**

Nollywood filmmaker and actress 'Funke Akindele' shared an interesting experience from the promotion of her 2024 blockbuster, 'Everybody Loves Jenifa,' revealing that an unnamed social media influencer turned down her offer for a paid promotional collaboration.

She spoke during a panel session at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND). Akindele explained that she reached out to the influencer despite initially feeling reluctant to do so. She proposed creating promotional content several times a week to support the film's marketing campaign.

What she said:

According to the filmmaker, she waited for almost a week before receiving a response. The influencer reportedly explained that their management was not interested in the collaboration.

Akindele said she even offered to pay for the promotional content, but the influencer ignored her message.

She later came across claims that she had blocked someone because of the disagreement. However, she did not identify the influencer or provide further details about the alleged incident.

The filmmaker explained that she chose not to let the rejection discourage her, adding that she accepted the situation and continued with her plans.

Why This Matters for Film Promotion:

Akindele's experience highlights the growing importance of influencer marketing in the entertainment industry.

Today, promoting a movie goes beyond trailers, billboards and traditional media appearances. Social media influencers have become important players in reaching audiences, creating conversations and generating excitement around new releases.

However, her story also shows that securing promotional partnerships is not always straightforward, even when filmmakers are willing to pay for the service.

For movie producers, this raises questions about how to build effective marketing relationships, identify the right promotional partners and explore alternative ways of reaching potential cinema audiences.

With Nollywood becoming increasingly competitive, marketing has become an important part of a film's commercial success.

How Fans Reacted Online:

Akindele's revelation has also brought conversations about influencer partnerships and movie marketing back into the spotlight.

Her experience offers fans a glimpse into the challenges filmmakers face behind the scenes, showing that even established industry figures encounter rejection while promoting their projects.

The story also provides an interesting talking point about the relationship between celebrities, influencers and their management teams, particularly when paid collaborations are involved.

Meanwhile, Akindele's box office record remains impressive. 'Everybody Loves Jenifa' grossed approximately N1.88 billion, while her 2025 film, Behind the Scenes, crossed the N2 billion mark.

Her experience is a reminder that successful film promotion requires persistence, the right partnerships and a willingness to keep moving, even when a marketing opportunity does not work out.