Nollywood star Ini Edo has shared a heartfelt message of congratulations for her colleagues Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham following their record-breaking successes at the Nigerian box office. The two actresses have led a strong year for Nollywood cinema, and Ini Edo’s recognition adds to a growing wave of industry praise for their achievements. 

In a post shared publicly on social media, Ini Edo acknowledged the remarkable commercial performances of Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes and Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty, both released in the latter part of 2025. She described them as “industry titans” whose strategic commitment and creative efforts have significantly lifted the profile of Nigerian film in 2025. 

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes has become one of the highest-grossing films of the year, raking in an estimated ₦2.4 billion at cinemas across West Africa, according to distributors and box office reports. Meanwhile, Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty crossed ₦1 billion at the Nigerian box office, an impressive milestone that positions it among the top grossing Nollywood films of all time. 

Ini’s message celebrated both milestones and highlighted what she described as “a new era” for Nigerian cinema. “I want to congratulate these industry titans, @funkeakindele and @toyinabraham, for literally breaking all records and pushing beyond every envelope to record these groundbreaking successes for Nollywood,” she wrote. “My respect for these two has taken a hike. The level of commitment, strategizing, marketing and playing the game generally is on a whole different level.” 

The congratulations from Ini Edo come amid a period of strong industry performance, with several Nollywood films drawing record audiences and box office returns. The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has also publicly acknowledged the achievements of both Akindele and Abraham, commending Funke’s consistent box office dominance and Toyin’s historic directorial debut with Oversabi Aunty. 

In her post, Ini reflected on her own experience in the past year, noting that her 2025 film A Very Dirty Christmas did not hit the same commercial heights but nonetheless offered valuable lessons in production and release strategy. She expressed pride in her team’s effort and hinted at returning to film production in the near future with renewed focus. 

Fans and fellow entertainers joined the conversation online, with many echoing Ini’s praise and celebrating the commercial momentum Nollywood has built. Supporters pointed out that the strong box office performances not only benefit Akindele and Abraham personally, but also boost the broader Nigerian film ecosystem by demonstrating that local content can draw large audiences and compete successfully against international releases. 

Industry watchers say the spotlight on these performances has also helped elevate discussions around cinema distribution, marketing strategy, and audience engagement in Nigeria. Films that cross the billion-naira mark have historically played an important role in shaping Nollywood’s commercial landscape, and the dual success of Behind The Scenes and Oversabi Aunty underscores how strategic planning and strong storytelling can translate into box office impact. 

For Ini Edo, the public congratulations reflect both camaraderie and mutual respect among Nollywood peers. Her message to Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham highlights a growing culture of celebration among industry veterans who recognise the value of box office achievements and creative contributions in the Nigerian film industry.