Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs has been laid to rest in Lagos following a funeral Mass attended by his widow, actress Joke Silva, their children, colleagues and prominent dignitaries.
The funeral service was held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, bringing together family members, friends, government officials and personalities from Nigeria’s entertainment industry to honour the late screen icon.
Jacobs’ widow, Joke Silva, attended the solemn ceremony with their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs. The family members were seen dressed in blue as the actor’s flower-adorned casket was placed prominently at the front of the church.
Among the dignitaries at the funeral were Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and his wife, Oluremi Hamzat. Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and former Ekiti State First Lady, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, were also among those announced at the ceremony.
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The funeral followed a Night of Tributes held on Wednesday, September 30, at Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos Island, where friends, colleagues and admirers gathered to celebrate Jacobs’ life and career.
The family had asked guests attending the funeral service to dress in shades of green, while a private burial was scheduled to follow the church service. Reports later confirmed that Jacobs was buried at a private cemetery in Lagos.
A Life Dedicated to Acting
Born Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs on July 11, 1942, Olu Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His death was announced by his family, who described him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to the public to respect the family’s privacy during their period of mourning.
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Jacobs’ acting career spanned more than five decades and extended across theatre, television and film in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London before establishing himself through stage and television performances in Britain. He later returned to Nigeria, where he became one of the defining figures of the country’s film and television industry.
Beyond his acting career, Jacobs and Joke Silva were involved in the Lufodo Group and the development of the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the training and development of young talents in the Nigerian creative industry.
His career earned him several honours, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007, the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, and the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a tribute following Jacobs’ death, described him as a major figure in Nigeria’s creative industry and acknowledged his contribution to the country’s cultural identity and entertainment sector.
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As family and friends gathered in Lagos for his final farewell, the funeral marked the closing chapter of a remarkable career that left a lasting imprint on Nigerian theatre, television and cinema.
