-
Veteran actress Joke Silva and her sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs, have gathered with family members, friends and colleagues at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, for the funeral Mass of celebrated Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs.
-
Lagos State First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and his wife, Oluremi Hamzat, as well as former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and former Ekiti State First Lady, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, are among dignitaries attending the funeral.
-
The funeral follows a Night of Tributes held at Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos Island, on Wednesday, where leading figures in Nigeria’s entertainment industry gathered to celebrate Jacobs’ decades-long contribution to theatre, television and film.
-
Jacobs’ casket, adorned with flowers, has been placed in front of the church as the funeral proceedings continue. Guests were asked to attend in shades of green, while a private interment is expected to take place after the service, according to the family’s arrangements.
October 2, (THEWILL) – Veteran Nollywood actor and theatre icon, Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, is being given his final farewell in Lagos, with his widow, actress Joke Silva, their sons and prominent figures from politics, entertainment and public life gathered for his funeral Mass.
The funeral service is being held on Friday at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, drawing family members, friends, colleagues and admirers of the late actor, who died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84.
Jacobs’ casket, decorated with flowers, was placed in front of the church as the service got underway.
Silva and their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga, were present at the ceremony. The family members were dressed in blue, even as guests attending the funeral had been requested to wear shades of green as part of the arrangements for the final rites.
Among the dignitaries at the service were Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; 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 announced among the dignitaries attending the ceremony.
The funeral Mass marks the culmination of a series of ceremonies organised to honour Jacobs, whose death brought an end to a career that spanned more than five decades and established him as one of Nigeria’s most recognisable stage and screen actors.
READ ALSO:
Entertainment Industry Remembers Icon
The funeral follows a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held on Wednesday at Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos Island, where actors, filmmakers, friends and associates gathered to celebrate Jacobs’ life and professional legacy.
The tribute ceremony attracted several leading figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Rita Dominic, Desmond Elliot and other Nollywood personalities.
The event provided an opportunity for colleagues and friends to reflect on Jacobs’ contribution to Nigerian theatre, television and film and to recount aspects of a career that took him from professional theatre to international productions and eventually to the centre of Nigeria’s burgeoning film industry.
During Friday’s funeral proceedings, entertainment entrepreneur and musician Darey Art Alade also paid tribute to the late actor by performing his song, Pray For Me, which featured Jacobs and Silva.
Jacobs’ son, Olugbenga, also presented his father’s biography during the proceedings.
A Career That Crossed Generations
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs developed an interest in acting at an early age and subsequently travelled to Britain, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
He worked in British theatre and television before returning to Nigeria, where he became one of the most respected figures in the country’s performing arts.
His career spanned theatre, television and film, with performances that earned him recognition both in Nigeria and internationally. He became particularly known for his commanding screen presence and distinctive voice, establishing a reputation that endured across generations of Nigerian audiences.
Jacobs was also a film executive and, alongside Silva, was associated with the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, through which the couple contributed to professional training and development within Nigeria’s performing arts sector.
His contributions 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 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2013 and the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
The Federal Government also conferred on him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, aged 84. His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, who described him as “The Lion of Lufodo”.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
