Nollywood actress and box office queen Funke Akindele has disclosed that she would make a return to politics after her first foray in 2023, which resulted in a defeat.

Recall that Funke was the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State during the election which was won by the incumbent party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, speaking during her appearance on the inaugural live edition of ‘WithChude’ podcast, the actress said she remains undeterred by her defeat in the 2023 governorship election and would be making a return to politics.

READ MORE: ‘To be successful, you need to get your hands dirty’ – Funke Akindele

She said, “I am glad I went into politics. And ask me, am I going to do it again? Oh, yes. Oh, I love it.”

On why she went into politics initially, Funke explained that she was driven into the political arena by her desire to give back.

“I need to support, I need to give back, that is why I went into politics,” Funke said as she went on to talk about her experience in the political arena and how she managed to navigate its challenging terrain.

She explained, “Getting into it, seeing the violence, seeing the shouting. Then I started watching female politicians, you know, the way they speak. The way they speak. and the way they command respect, authority.

READ ALSO: “Funke Akindele paid me just ₦90k after one month on set” – Actor Ijoba Lande speaks out

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“And I’m like, hey, you are not alone. You can do it. And I stood, I spoke. I learned that from there, that you have to be bold. You have to be courageous. You have to be strong. What will be will be. Fear will only put you in a place.”

“So, all this I learned from doing politics. And I got to know a lot of numbers. I got educated more, acquired more knowledge. You know, I’m reading more now, knowing more about my country, knowing more about my state.

“When I want to speak, I’ll speak with the statistics, you understand, with the data.”

The actress had in the aftermath of her election defeat, deleted all posts relating to politics from her verified Instagram page, giving the public the impression that she is taking a break from the political arena.

Additionally, she’s been rather quiet on politics since 2023 until her latest comments on the inaugural live edition of ‘WithChude’ podcast.

EXPLORE: Funke Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa smashes records with ₦1.88 Billion gross

Sanwo-Olu made the declaration when he received a high-powered delegation from the African Union and the AFRIMA International Committee in his office on Tuesday.

The governor said Lagos is more than prepared to roll out the red carpet for the rest of Africa in a demonstration of the state’s status as the creative and cultural capital of Africa.

He added that Lagos’ acceptance to host AFRIMA 2025 aligns perfectly with his administration’s vision to make the creative and tourism industry a major pillar of the state’s development drive.

“We are happy to receive the AFRIMA team; we will do it, and we will be part of this, this is one initiative we are proud to accommodate. Our team will work together with your team to action this. We thank the African Union and the AFRIMA Committee for trusting Lagos.”

Mike Dada, AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for the state’s investment in the creative industry, stating that AFRIMA is positioned to create big opportunities for tourism, entertainment, jobs, and the economy for the host city.

Dada said, “Your Excellency, under your leadership, Lagos has made great progress in the creative industry. You’ve been a strong supporter and a true promoter of talent and fresh ideas. Whether it’s film, fashion, music, or technology, your efforts have helped make Lagos stand out as Africa’s creative capital. We at AFRIMA truly appreciate your support, and we believe Lagos is more than ready to host an unforgettable AFRIMA 2025.”

Dada emphasised that since AFRIMA was launched in 2014, it has been hosted in Nigeria, with Lagos being the host city, Ghana, and Senegal, with road shows in over 22 countries around the world.

He also shared the organisation’s commitment to celebrating and uniting Africa through music.

According to him, AFRIMA is not just about music, it resonates with real human stories by providing a platform for talent discovery, career turn-around, and an avenue for reshaping the global narrative about Africa.

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The African Union and AFRIMA International Committee will on May 13 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia officially announce and present the certificate to the host of the 2025 AFRIMA.

Following his outing at the recently held 17th Headies, where he was nominated for the Rookie of the Year prize, rising Afrobeats star Kaestyle has released a new EP.

The three-track EP, ‘Rookie’s Don’t Sound This Good,’ comes after he failed to pick up the prize.

Undaunted, Kaestyle’s new EP speaks to his mindset as a vast star, combining genres with a rich infusion of his cultural influences to create an exciting sound winning him mainstream attention.

With ‘Rookies don’t sound this good,’ Kaestyle confidently states that artistry surpasses the Rookie tag as he delivered records only a well-rounded star can deliver.

The three-track project kicks off with ‘Chineke,’ a breezy opener featuring emerging talent Starsamm, where Kaestyle playfully confesses how overwhelmed he is by his love interest, so much so that only God (Chineke) can save him.

The energy carries into ‘How Much,’ where he shows emotional honesty by sharing the blurred lines between desire, temptation, and affection over party-starting production that showcases his hitmaking credentials.

The project closes with ‘a.o.m.g (Ahead of My Game),’ on which he reflects on his rise from modest beginnings, declaring his growth and sense of purpose with lyrical sharpness and calm confidence.

The EP is Kaestyle’s way of making it clear that he’s not just here to participate, but instead to dominate as he possesses the artistry to command attention and wow listeners.

Kaestyle reacted to the Headies loss by congratulating the winner and making it clear that his hit collaboration with label mate and Afrobeats superstar Omah Lay deserved a nod for Best Collaboration.

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READ ALSO: What The Headies Must Do To Regain Its Status As A Prestigious Award

Listed by Apple Music as one of the stars to look out for in 2025, Kaestyle is putting the Headies episode behind him as he remains focused on carving a niche for himself.