Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs was laid to rest in Lagos on October 2, 2026, after a funeral service held at the Freedom Centre in Lekki. The ceremony was attended by family members, friends, colleagues, dignitaries, and several stars of the Nigerian film industry. Jacobs died in September at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy of several decades in the entertainment industry. His burial marked the end of funeral ceremonies celebrating his life and career.
The funeral service was a testament to Jacobs' impact on the Nigerian film industry, with several notable figures in attendance. Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, were among the dignitaries who paid their respects to the late actor. Nollywood personalities, 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, also attended the ceremony.
Jacobs' interest in acting developed after watching a performance by the Hubert Ogunde concert party at the Colonial Hotel in Kano, where he spent his early years. Born in 1942 to parents from Egba Alake, Jacobs attended Holy Trinity School in Kano. He later moved to England, where he trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. This marked the beginning of his journey to becoming one of Nigeria's most respected actors.
Jacobs began building his stage career in the 1970s, playing The Boy in A Taste of Honey at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1972. He subsequently appeared in several British television productions, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, and Barlow at Large. In 1978, he portrayed President Mageeba in Michael Codron's presentation of Sir Tom Stoppard's play, Night and Day.
Jacobs returned to Nigeria in 1990 and featured in the NTA detective series The Third Eye before becoming a prominent figure in the country's emerging Nollywood industry. He went on to feature in hundreds of films, establishing himself as one of the most acclaimed performers in Nigerian cinema. His decades-long career earned him several honours, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Africa International Film Festival.
In recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry, Jacobs received several awards. In 2022, he received an Icon Award from the Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria, while the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards honoured him with the Industry Merit Award. These awards reflect his lasting legacy in the Nigerian film industry.
With his burial in Lagos, family, colleagues, and admirers have brought to a close the funeral ceremonies celebrating the life and career of one of Nigeria's most prominent actors. The event served as a reminder of Jacobs' impact on the entertainment industry and his enduring legacy.
Key points
- Jacobs died in September at the age of 82.
- The funeral service was attended by several notable figures, including Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
- Jacobs received several awards for his contributions to the entertainment industry, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Africa International Film Festival.
