Olu Jacobs laid to rest as Nollywood bids farewell
For more than five decades, Olu Jacobs commanded the stage and screen with a presence that could silence a room. On Friday, October 2, 2026, the curtain finally came down on the life of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors.
Jacobs was laid to rest in Lagos after a funeral service at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, where family, friends, colleagues and dignitaries gathered to pay their final respects.
*Olu Jacobs
Abimbola Joseph
For more than five decades, Olu Jacobs commanded the stage and screen with a presence that could silence a room. On Friday, October 2, 2026, the curtain finally came down on the life of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors.
Jacobs was laid to rest in Lagos after a funeral service at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, where family, friends, colleagues and dignitaries gathered to pay their final respects.
The atmosphere was one of grief and celebration as mourners said goodbye to the actor whose voice, commanding performances and unmistakable screen presence helped shape generations of Nigerian theatre and cinema.
His widow, veteran actress Joke Silva, and their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga, were among those who gathered for the final farewell. The family had earlier asked mourners attending the funeral to wear shades of green.
The casket carrying Jacobs arrived at the venue as the funeral service got underway, bringing into sharp focus the reality of the loss of a man who had spent decades bringing fictional characters to life.
Among the dignitaries at the service were Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
There were also emotional moments from the entertainment community. Dare Art Alade performed “Pray for Me”, a song featuring Jacobs and Silva, adding music to an occasion already heavy with memories.
The funeral followed a Night of Tributes held at Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island, on Wednesday, where actors and other personalities gathered to celebrate Jacobs’ remarkable career.
Jacobs, whose full name was Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, died on September 16, 2026, aged 84. His career spanned theatre, television and film and lasted more than five decades.
And so, amid prayers, flowers, music and memories, Nollywood bid farewell to the man many Nigerians simply knew as Olu Jacobs, an actor whose performances outlived the roles he played.
The screen may no longer welcome his familiar presence, but the characters he brought to life remain part of Nigeria’s cultural memory.
