Nigerian actress Bunmi Nelson has opened up about a decision she now considers one of her biggest missed opportunities, admitting that she never imagined her colleague, Funke Akindele, would rise to become one of Nigeria’s biggest entertainment stars.
Nelson made the revelation during an interview with actress Biola Adebayo on the Talk to B podcast, where she reflected on her early encounters with Akindele and how she failed to recognise her potential at the time.
‘If I Knew Funke Would Go This Far, I Would Have Held Her Tight’
Looking back at their relationship in the mid-2000s, Nelson expressed regret over how she responded when Akindele reached out to her for help.
“If I knew Funke would go far like this, I would have held her tight,” Nelson said.
The actress explained that Akindele used to contact her because she needed a location for filming. At the time, Nelson had a house in Magodo that she occasionally allowed people to use for movie productions.
According to her, Akindele once brought Mama Fali Werepe to the house because she wanted to shoot there.
Nelson admitted that she did not take Akindele’s requests seriously because she simply did not foresee the level of success she would eventually achieve.
How Nelson Says She Missed the Opportunity
Nelson recalled that she would sometimes ignore Akindele’s calls, unaware that the actress was already building connections that would later become important to her career.
“I had every opportunity when Funke was calling me because the industry was not overpopulated like now,” she said.
She described 2006 and 2007 as a period when she had the chance to become more closely connected with Akindele and the growing Yoruba movie industry, but she failed to recognise the opportunity at the time.
Nelson also recalled that Akindele was encouraging people to join the Yoruba film industry, something she now views differently in hindsight.
She added that Akindele was even the person who took her to Odun Ifa, highlighting the level of contact they had during those early years.
‘Don’t Underestimate Anyone’
Reflecting on the experience, Nelson used her story to warn people against judging others based on where they are at a particular moment in their lives.
“I didn’t see Funke Akindele going far; that’s why in life, don’t underestimate anyone. Don’t look down on anyone except when you’re admiring their shoelace,” she said.
Her comments highlight how difficult it can be to predict someone’s future based on their circumstances at the beginning of their career.
Bunmi Nelson Says Life Taught Her Humility
The actress said the experience has also changed the way she approaches life and other people.
According to Nelson, one of the biggest lessons she has learned is the importance of humility, particularly because circumstances can change unexpectedly.
“If there’s anything I have learned in this life, it is humility,” she said. “I’m more humble now than anything else because life has taught me the hard way that nothing is constant.”
Funke Akindele has since established herself as a major force in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, with a career spanning acting, filmmaking and producing.
For Nelson, the experience remains a reminder that people should never be dismissed simply because they have not yet achieved their full potential.
