Facebook Partners Funke Akindele to Take Nollywood Global with ‘The Four’ Premieres.

In a move that underscores the growing global influence of Nigerian cinema, Facebook has announced a strategic partnership with celebrated Nollywood filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele for the London and Lagos premieres of her highly anticipated new film, The Four. The collaboration is designed to celebrate Nigerian storytelling and highlight the creators and communities that help these stories reach audiences around the world.

According to a statement released by the platform, Facebook will support both the film's world premiere in London and its homecoming premiere in Lagos. The partnership will feature immersive experiences that bring creators, celebrities, and audiences together, demonstrating how Facebook serves as a bridge connecting storytellers with their fans. It also aims to showcase the platform's role in building communities around cultural moments that matter from major film premieres to everyday fandom.

Oluwasola Obagbemi, Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa at Meta, emphasized the significance of the collaboration. "Facebook has always been about connecting people, and our partnership with Funke Akindele brings that to life through film," she said. Obagbemi further noted that creators on Facebook have the unique opportunity to reach a global audience, foster genuine connections with their fans, and even earn money from the original content they share. "Through our partnership around The Four premieres in London and Lagos, we're celebrating the creators shaping culture, and helping more creators who share original and engaging content on Facebook to succeed," she added.

For Funke Akindele, whose illustrious career spans acting, producing, and directing, this partnership is a heartfelt celebration of the audiences who have supported her throughout her journey. "African cinema has always had beautiful stories for the world to enjoy, and it's exciting to have Facebook as a partner in bringing these stories to even more audiences globally," Akindele remarked.

The partnership will also spotlight Nigerian creators both at home and in the diaspora. At both the Lagos and London premieres, Facebook will host a creator hosted space dedicated to capturing social content. This initiative will highlight how creators use the platform to connect with younger audiences and share Nigerian stories and culture beyond the country's borders.

"From London to Lagos, the partnership celebrates Nollywood's global reach and the creators and communities helping Nigerian stories travel," the statement concluded. By joining forces with one of Nollywood's most bankable stars, Facebook is not only amplifying the reach of The Four but also reinforcing its commitment to empowering African creators on the world stage.