VIDEO: Olu Jacobs Laid to Rest in Lagos as Nollywood Stars, Dignitaries Gather
Veteran Nigerian actor, Olu Jacobs, has been laid to rest in Lagos following a funeral service attended by family members, friends, colleagues and prominent dignitaries.
The funeral service was held on Friday, October 2, at This Present House Church on Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, before the actor was taken to a private cemetery for burial.
Jacobs, whose full name was Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84.
The funeral brought together several prominent figures, including Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; Lagos State First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; and Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.
Members of the Nigerian entertainment industry also turned out to honour the veteran actor, with celebrities including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Shaffy Bello, Hilda Dokubo, Ireti Doyle, Segun Arinze and Stan Nze among those present.
Singer and entertainment entrepreneur Dare Art Alade also paid tribute during the ceremony, performing his song “Pray For Me,” which featured Jacobs and his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva.
Jacobs’ son, Olugbenga Jacobs, presented his father’s biography during the funeral proceedings as guests reflected on the actor’s life, career and contribution to Nigeria’s performing arts.
The burial followed a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held on Wednesday at Glover Memorial Hall on Lagos Island, where colleagues and friends gathered to celebrate the late actor.
Jacobs had a career spanning theatre, television and film. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, he worked in British theatre and television before returning to Nigeria in 1990.
He later became one of the most recognisable faces in Nollywood, appearing in hundreds of films and earning recognition for his work across Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
His achievements included a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Africa International Film Festival, an Icon Award from the Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria in 2022 and the Industry Merit Award at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Jacobs and Joke Silva were also involved in the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the development and training of talents in Nigeria’s creative industry.
Friday’s funeral marked the final public farewell to an actor whose career stretched across generations and whose work remains part of Nigeria’s theatre, television and film history.
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