Family members, friends, colleagues and prominent Nigerians have gathered in Lagos for the funeral service of veteran Nollywood actor Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs.

The funeral mass is taking place on Friday, October 2, at This Present House on Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, as loved ones come together to celebrate the life and legacy of one of Nigeria’s most respected actors.

Jacobs’ widow, veteran actress Joke Silva, and their sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs, were present at the service. The late actor’s casket was positioned at the front of the church and decorated with flowers as the ceremony got underway.

Among the dignitaries reported to have attended were Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and his wife, Oluremi Hamzat; former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and former Ekiti State First Lady, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi.

The funeral follows a Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held on Wednesday, September 30, at Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos Island. The event brought together several leading figures from Nollywood and the wider creative industry, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Funke Akindele, Jide Kosoko and Adebayo Salami, among others.

Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His family announced his death through his son, Olusoji Jacobs, describing him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and asking the public and media to respect the family's privacy during the mourning period.

Born in 1942, Jacobs built a career spanning theatre, television and film in both Nigeria and abroad. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, he worked in British theatre and television before becoming one of the most recognisable figures in Nigeria’s film industry. President Bola Tinubu, in his condolence message, described him as a major figure whose career contributed to the development and professionalisation of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

The family had earlier announced that guests attending Friday’s funeral should wear shades of green, while the Night of Tributes carried a blue dress code. The funeral service is to be followed by a private burial.

As family and admirers bid farewell to the celebrated actor, the ceremonies provide an opportunity for Nigeria’s entertainment community and the wider public to remember a career that stretched across more than five decades and left a significant mark on the country’s performing arts.

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