Several prominent personalities have gathered in Lagos for the funeral service of veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs, as family, friends, colleagues and admirers bid farewell to one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors.
Among the dignitaries attending the funeral at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, are Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
The funeral ceremony has brought together members of the Nigerian entertainment industry and other distinguished guests to honour the life and legacy of the late actor.
Entertainment entrepreneur Dare Art Alade was also present and performed Pray for Me, a song he recorded with Olu Jacobs and his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva.
Olu Jacobs’ son, Olugbenga Jacobs, also presented his father’s biography as part of the funeral programme.
Nollywood Stars Pay Tribute to Olu Jacobs
The funeral follows a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held at Glover Memorial Hall on Lagos Island on Wednesday.
The tribute event attracted several leading Nollywood personalities, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Hilda Dokubo, Rita Dominic and Segun Arinze.
During the ceremony, colleagues reflected on Olu Jacobs’ remarkable contribution to Nigerian theatre, television and film.
Richard Mofe-Damijo recalled valuable lessons he learned from the late actor about the importance of every role in a production, while Sola Sobowale emotionally remembered the support and encouragement Jacobs offered her during the early stages of her acting career.
Olu Jacobs’ Five-Decade Acting Career
Widely known as the “Lion of Lufodo,” Olu Jacobs enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades and became one of the most respected figures in African entertainment.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London before pursuing opportunities in British theatre and television. He later returned to Africa and established himself as a major figure in the Nigerian film and television industry.
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva, whom he married in 1989, co-founded the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, institutions that contributed to film production and the development of performing arts professionals.
In recognition of his contribution to the arts, Jacobs received the Nigerian national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
Olu Jacobs Dies at 84
Olu Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84.
His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from Nollywood actors, filmmakers, political leaders and fans across Nigeria and beyond.
Many mourners have highlighted his decades of influence on Nigerian cinema, theatre and television, as well as his role in inspiring younger generations of performers.
The funeral service is expected to be followed by a private burial ceremony.
Guests attending the funeral were requested to wear shades of green, while the earlier Night of Tributes featured a blue-themed dress code.
Source: newsthemegh.com