Veteran Nollywood actor and theatre icon, Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, is being given his final farewell in Lagos. His widow, actress Joke Silva, their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs, and prominent figures from politics, entertainment, and public life have gathered for his funeral Mass. The ceremony is being held at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos.
The funeral service is being attended by several dignitaries, including Lagos State First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and his wife, Oluremi Hamzat. Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and former Ekiti State First Lady, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, are also in attendance. Guests were asked to attend in shades of green, while a private interment is expected to take place after the service.
Jacobs' casket, adorned with flowers, has been placed in front of the church as the funeral proceedings continue. The family members were dressed in blue, in accordance with the arrangements for the final rites. 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.
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. Several notable figures, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, and Jide Kosoko, attended the tribute ceremony.
Jacobs' contributions to the entertainment industry earned him several honours, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 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. Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84.
During Friday's funeral proceedings, entertainment entrepreneur and musician Darey Art Alade 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. 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.
Jacobs' 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. His legacy continues to be celebrated by his colleagues and fans, who have gathered to bid him a final farewell.
Key points
- Olu Jacobs, a veteran Nollywood actor and theatre icon, is being given his final farewell in Lagos.
- The funeral service is being attended by several dignitaries, including Lagos State First Lady and former governors.
- Jacobs' contributions to the entertainment industry earned him several honours, including the Africa Movie Academy Award and the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic.
