Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu, Amosun, Others Attend Olu Jacobs’ Funeral in Lagos

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun were among dignitaries who gathered in Lagos on Friday for the funeral service of veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs.

The funeral is taking place at This Present House on Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, where members of Jacobs’ family, friends, colleagues and other guests have assembled to honour the late actor and celebrate his decades-long contribution to Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Entertainment entrepreneur Dare Art Alade was also at the ceremony, where he performed “Pray for Me”, a song he recorded with Jacobs and his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva. Jacobs’ son, Olugbenga Jacobs, also presented his father’s biography as part of the funeral programme.

The funeral followed a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held at Glover Memorial Hall on Lagos Island on Wednesday. The event attracted prominent Nollywood figures, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko, Adebayo Salami, Hilda Dokubo, Rita Dominic and Segun Arinze.

During the tribute ceremony, colleagues reflected on Jacobs’ influence on their careers and the wider Nigerian film industry. Mofe-Damijo recalled a lesson from the veteran actor about the importance of every role in a production, while Sobowale spoke about the encouragement Jacobs gave her early in her career.

Known by the nickname “Lion of Lufodo,” Jacobs built a career spanning more than five decades across theatre, television and film. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before working in British theatre and television and later establishing himself as one of Nigeria’s most recognisable screen actors.

Jacobs and Silva, whom he married in 1989, co-founded the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts. Their work extended beyond acting into film production and the training of emerging performers.

In recognition of his contribution to the arts, Jacobs received 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. His death prompted tributes from colleagues, filmmakers, political leaders and admirers in Nigeria and abroad, many of whom highlighted his influence on successive generations of performers.

The Friday funeral service is expected to be followed by a private burial. Guests attending the ceremony were asked to dress in shades of green, while blue was the designated colour for Wednesday’s Night of Tributes.