Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs has been laid to rest in Lagos following a funeral service held on Friday.
Family members, friends, colleagues and dignitaries gathered at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, to honour the late actor. The ceremony brought together several prominent figures from Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Olu Jacobs Buried in Lagos
The funeral service marked the final stage of the ceremonies held in honour of Olu Jacobs. The veteran actor died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84 after a career spanning more than five decades.
Among the dignitaries at the funeral were Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Lagos State First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and former Ekiti State First Lady Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi were also listed among those who attended.
Nollywood personalities also turned out to pay their final respects. Those present included Shaffy Bello, Keppy Ekpeyong, Stan Nze, Ireti Doyle, Kate Henshaw, OC Ukeje, Patrick Doyle, Stephanie Okereke and Ernest Obi.
The gathering reflected the wide influence Jacobs had across Nigeria’s film and theatre communities. His death had earlier triggered tributes from colleagues, fans and other figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
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Funeral Follows Night of Tributes
The funeral came two days after a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held at Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos Island.
The event brought together actors, filmmakers and other members of the entertainment industry. Guests reflected on Jacobs’ career and the influence he had on Nigerian theatre, television and film.
The family had earlier announced September 30 for the Night of Tributes. The main funeral service followed on October 2 at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1.
The funeral programme gave friends, colleagues and admirers an opportunity to celebrate the actor before his burial. His death marked the end of a long career that crossed British theatre, television and Nigerian cinema.
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Olu Jacobs’ Early Life
Olu Jacobs was born Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs and spent his early years in Kano.
According to the supplied account, his interest in acting grew after he watched a Hubert Ogunde concert party performance at the Colonial Hotel in Kano. The experience encouraged him to pursue a career in the performing arts.
Jacobs later travelled to England, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. His training prepared the foundation for a stage and television career that later took him across Britain and Nigeria.
He began building his stage career during the 1970s. In 1972, he played The Boy in A Taste of Honey at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
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Jacobs Built Career in British Theatre
Before becoming a major Nollywood figure, Jacobs appeared in several British television productions.
His credits included The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part and Barlow at Large. He also played President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s presentation of Sir Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day in 1978.
His years in British theatre and television gave him valuable experience before his eventual return to Nigeria. The experience later became part of the foundation for his long career in Nigerian entertainment.
Jacobs returned to Nigeria in 1990. He subsequently featured in the NTA detective series The Third Eye before becoming a prominent actor in the developing Nigerian film industry.
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Olu Jacobs Became a Nollywood Icon
After returning to Nigeria, Jacobs became one of the most recognisable actors in the country.
He featured in hundreds of films and established a reputation across theatre, television and cinema. His career also helped connect Nigeria’s traditional theatre background with the expanding Nollywood industry.
Over several decades, Jacobs worked alongside many of Nigeria’s leading actors and filmmakers. His performances earned him recognition both within Nigeria and among international audiences.
His contribution extended beyond individual film roles. He became part of a generation of performers who helped establish Nigerian cinema as a major part of the country’s cultural identity.
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Jacobs Received Several Industry Honours
Jacobs’ contribution to acting earned him several major honours during his career.
He received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Africa International Film Festival. The Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria also honoured him with an Icon Award in 2022.
At the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Jacobs received the Industry Merit Award. The honour recognised his contribution to acting and the Nigerian entertainment industry.
His achievements reflected the length and breadth of his career. Jacobs worked across stage, television and film while remaining one of the best-known names in Nigerian acting.
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Nollywood Stars Honour Olu Jacobs
Several actors attended the funeral to honour Jacobs and celebrate his contribution to the industry.
The gathering included established stars and younger performers who worked within the Nigerian film industry. Their presence reflected the broad range of relationships Jacobs built throughout his career.
Among the entertainers mentioned at the ceremony were Shaffy Bello, Keppy Ekpeyong, Ireti Doyle, Kate Henshaw and OC Ukeje. Patrick Doyle, Stephanie Okereke and Ernest Obi were also among the personalities at the event.
The funeral therefore became both a farewell and a gathering of different generations within Nollywood. Colleagues remembered Jacobs as a major figure whose career stretched across several eras of Nigerian entertainment.
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Family and Colleagues Pay Final Respects
Jacobs’ family also attended the funeral service as the actor received his final farewell.
His widow, veteran actress Joke Silva, and their sons were present during the funeral proceedings. The family had earlier organised the Night of Tributes as part of the ceremonies celebrating his life.
During the funeral, Jacobs’ son Olugbenga also presented his father’s biography. Entertainment entrepreneur and singer Dare Art Alade performed Pray For Me, a song associated with Jacobs and his wife, Joke Silva.
The moments provided an opportunity for relatives and colleagues to reflect on Jacobs’ personal and professional legacy. They also marked the conclusion of the public ceremonies organised to honour the late actor.
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Olu Jacobs Leaves Behind a Lasting Legacy
Olu Jacobs’ career covered theatre, television and film in both Britain and Nigeria.
His early work in British productions helped establish his professional credentials before he returned home and became a major figure in Nollywood. He subsequently appeared in hundreds of productions and earned several industry honours.
His influence also extended to the many actors and filmmakers who worked alongside him. Tributes from colleagues during the funeral period have continued to highlight his contribution to Nigerian entertainment.
The actor’s death has therefore marked a significant moment for Nigeria’s creative industry. His funeral in Lagos brought together the people who worked with him, admired his performances and followed his career.
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Final Farewell for Veteran Actor
The burial of Olu Jacobs brings to a close the formal funeral ceremonies organised by his family.
The ceremonies began with the Night of Tributes at Glover Memorial Hall before the funeral service at This Present House in Lekki. A private burial followed the service, according to reports on the funeral arrangements.
Jacobs leaves behind a career that spanned more than five decades. From British theatre and television to Nollywood, he became one of the most recognisable Nigerian actors of his generation.
His colleagues, family and admirers have now paid their final respects as the Nigerian entertainment industry remembers his contribution to acting.
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