Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs has been laid to rest in Lagos, bringing to a close a series of funeral ceremonies held in honour of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors.
Jacobs was buried on Friday, October 2, 2026, following a funeral service at This Present House Church on Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Family members, friends, colleagues and prominent personalities from the entertainment industry attended the ceremony to pay their final respects.
Among the dignitaries present were Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and former Ekiti State First Lady Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi.
Jacobs’ widow, veteran actress Joke Silva, attended the service with their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs.
Hamzat described Jacobs as an icon of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, saying he joined relatives, friends and government officials at This Present House to honour the actor’s life and legacy.
“We gathered to honour his life and the memories he leaves behind,” Hamzat said in a statement shared on his X page, while extending his condolences to Jacobs’ family.
One of the emotional moments of the ceremony came when Nigerian singer-songwriter Dare Art Alade performed his hit song Pray for Me.
The song had featured Jacobs and Joke Silva, adding a personal dimension to the tribute.
Olugbenga Jacobs also presented his father’s biography during the funeral proceedings, while other speakers and clergy reflected on the actor’s life, career and contribution to Nigeria’s creative industry.
Several Nollywood personalities attended the service, including Shaffy Bello, Keppy Ekpeyong, Stan Nze, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, Ireti Doyle, Lala Akindoju, Kate Henshaw, OC Ukeje, Patrick Doyle, Stephanie Okereke and Ernest Obi.
The funeral came two days after a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held at Glover Memorial Hall on Lagos Island.
The September 30 event attracted prominent figures from Nollywood, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Desmond Elliot, Ejike Asiegbu and Norbert Young.
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 for privacy during the period of mourning.
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs built a career spanning more than five decades across theatre, television and film.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London before establishing himself in British theatre and television and later returning to Nigeria.
After his return, he became one of the most recognisable figures in Nigeria’s emerging film industry.
He was particularly associated with authoritative roles, frequently portraying traditional rulers, chiefs, patriarchs and other commanding characters.
Beyond acting, Jacobs and Silva built a significant legacy in Nigeria’s performing arts sector.
The couple founded the Lufodo Group and later established the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the development and training of practitioners in the creative industry.
His burial marks the end of the formal funeral ceremonies for an actor whose career bridged Nigerian theatre, television and Nollywood, while his work continues to form part of the history of the country’s entertainment industry.
