Olu Jacobs Laid to Rest as Nollywood Bids Farewell to Screen Icon

Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs has been laid to rest in Lagos following a funeral service attended by members of his family, colleagues in the entertainment industry, government officials and other dignitaries.

Jacobs’ final funeral ceremony was held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, two days after a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs was held at Glover Memorial Hall on Lagos Island.

The actor’s widow, veteran actress Joke Silva, attended the service alongside their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs. The family remained at the centre of the ceremony as friends and colleagues gathered to honour the man widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential actors.

Among the dignitaries present were Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and his wife, Oluremi Hamzat, Lagos State First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and former Ekiti State First Lady Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi.

The service also featured a musical tribute from entertainment entrepreneur Dare Art Alade, who performed “Pray for Me”, a song associated with Jacobs and Joke Silva. Olugbenga Jacobs also presented his father’s biography during the funeral proceedings.

The funeral followed an emotional Night of Tributes on September 30, where leading figures in Nollywood gathered to share memories of Jacobs and reflect on the influence he had on generations of actors.

Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Kate Henshaw, Hilda Dokubo, Segun Arinze, Rita Dominic and several other actors attended the earlier tribute event. Their testimonies highlighted Jacobs’ role as an actor, mentor and colleague who contributed to the development of Nigeria’s performing arts industry.

RMD recalled lessons Jacobs taught him about the importance of every role in a production, while Sobowale spoke about the encouragement she received from the late actor at an important stage of her career.

Jacobs, whose full name was Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His death brought an end to a career that spanned more than five decades across theatre, television and film.

Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before working in British theatre and television. He later returned to Nigeria and became one of the country’s most recognisable actors.

Beyond acting, Jacobs and Joke Silva built a lasting institution through the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to film production and the training of young performers. He was also honoured with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.

His death has prompted tributes from across Nigeria’s entertainment industry and beyond, with colleagues remembering his professionalism, generosity and influence on younger performers.

The funeral marked the final public ceremony in a farewell programme that brought together Jacobs’ family, friends, political figures and members of the creative industry.

As the curtain finally came down on the funeral ceremonies, the legacy of the “Lion of Lufodo” remained at the centre of the tributes, with his decades of work continuing to shape Nigeria’s theatre, television and film history.

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