Ronke Oshodi Oke reveals how Funke Akindele supported her during an illness, praising the actress for her private acts of kindness
Nollywood actress Ronke Oshodi Oke has revealed how colleague Funke Akindele supported her financially during an illness, offering a glimpse into the filmmaker’s private generosity during a recent podcast interview.
Oshodi Oke made the revelation in an interview shared on Instagram on Thursday, August 27, 2026, as she praised Akindele for helping people behind the scenes without necessarily seeking public recognition.
According to the veteran actress, Akindele can sometimes appear difficult to reach, but that does not stop her from showing up when someone genuinely needs help.
“You might call Akindele and she will not answer, but when she hears that such a person has any problem, she will be there for the person,” Oshodi Oke said.
She then recalled her own experience, explaining that Akindele supported her financially when she was ill.
Oshodi Oke stressed that Akindele’s kindness was not something that began because of their professional relationship. She said the actress had already done a lot for her before she experienced the health challenge.
The revelation comes shortly after Oshodi Oke spoke publicly about the financial pressure she faced during a difficult period of illness.
In an earlier account, she said her treatment had cost as much as N800,000 monthly and credited several people, including MC Oluomo and colleagues, with helping her through the period.
Her latest comments placed particular attention on Akindele, whom she described as someone whose generosity is often kept away from the spotlight.
Oshodi Oke claimed that Akindele also reaches out to people she does not personally know after coming across their situations on Instagram, sometimes offering assistance without publicising the gesture.
The actress further suggested that Akindele’s support extends beyond close friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry.
She referred to the illness of the late actor Ogogo and expressed confidence that Akindele would have quietly offered support during such a difficult period.
“No one will go to Funke Akindele’s house crying and would leave the place still crying,” Oshodi Oke said.
The comment paints a different picture from the occasional public perception of Akindele as a strict or difficult person.
Oshodi Oke acknowledged that side of the actress’s personality but argued that strictness should not be confused with a lack of compassion.
Another report on the interview quoted Oshodi Oke describing Akindele as “very, very kind” despite her strict nature.
The comments quickly generated reactions online, with many social media users praising Akindele and thanking Oshodi Oke for speaking about the actress’s character.
One commenter said the revelation was emotional and expressed happiness that Akindele was receiving recognition for her kindness.
Another argued that people sometimes mistake principled behaviour for wickedness, while another urged Nigerians to stop focusing so heavily on reports portraying Akindele as strict.
Not everyone interpreted the story in the same way, however. One commenter questioned whether financial assistance should be the main measure by which Nigerians judge someone’s character.
The mixed reactions reflect the wider public interest in Akindele, one of Nollywood’s most commercially successful actresses and filmmakers, whose public image has combined professional discipline with a strong connection to her audience.
For Oshodi Oke, however, the important point was personal rather than public.
Her account suggests that some of Akindele’s most meaningful gestures may happen away from cameras and social media, particularly when friends, colleagues or even strangers are facing difficult circumstances.
The revelation also carries added emotional weight because Oshodi Oke has previously spoken about her own health struggles and the heavy financial burden associated with treatment.
In 2022, she publicly recounted a kidney-related health problem, while in later interviews she discussed the weight loss and health concerns she experienced.
Against that background, her decision to publicly acknowledge Akindele’s assistance appears to have been driven by gratitude rather than promotion.
The latest account has therefore shifted attention from Akindele’s on-screen achievements to a quieter aspect of her relationship with fellow entertainers.
For fans, the story offers a more personal portrait of Funke Akindele: a demanding professional who, according to Oshodi Oke, can also be remarkably generous when people need help most.
