By Akinwale Kasali
The Family of Legendary and veteran Nollywood Actor, Olu Jacobs, have announced October 2, 2026, as the date for his final journey.
This brings an end to remarkable life and career of one of Nigeria’s most revered actors in the history of Nigeria.
Recall that the veteran thespian passed September 16, which sent waves of grief across Nigeria’s entertainment industry and beyond.
It has now been announced by the family thta he will be laid to rest in Lagos following a church service scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 2.
According to the burial announcement released by the family on Tuesday, the service will take place at This Present House Church, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, after which the remains of the iconic actor will be interred privately.
But before the private burial, Lagos is set to witness an emotional gathering of Nollywood royalty, friends, colleagues and admirers as a Night of Tributes holds on Wednesday, September 30, at 4:00 p.m. at the historic Glover Memorial Hall, 19 Marinho Road, Lagos.
The event is expected to become one of the major gatherings of Nigeria’s entertainment community this year, with actors, filmmakers, industry veterans, mentees and personalities from across Nigeria and the international film community expected to converge to celebrate a man whose name became synonymous with excellence in acting.
For decades, the deceased commanded the screen with a presence few could match.
From theatre to television and the big screen, he built a reputation that transcended generations, becoming a mentor and inspiration to numerous actors who would later become household names.
Born on July 11, 1942, the actor quietly celebrated his 84th birthday with his immediate family before his passing. His final years were largely away from the glare of the entertainment industry, but his legacy remained firmly entrenched in the hearts of millions of Nigerians and film lovers across the world.
Beyond the screen, Olu Jacobs’ life story was inseparably connected with another towering figure in Nigerian entertainment — his wife, Joke Silva. The two actors married in 1989 and became one of the most respected couples in the country’s performing arts community.
Joke Silva, who stood beside her husband throughout their decades together, reportedly personally dressed Olu Jacobs for his 80th birthday celebration, an event that attracted significant attention from the Nigerian and international media.
Their three children – Olusoji, Olugbenga and Dayo are expected to be closely involved in the family’s private farewell arrangements as relatives and friends prepare to honour their patriarch.
The timing of the funeral also carries a deeply emotional dimension for the family, as Joke Silva’s 65th birthday falls on September 29, just one day before the scheduled Night of Tributes.
The occasion is expected to be observed privately with her children at the family’s Lagos home.
Meanwhile, members of the international entertainment community who shared professional and personal relationships with Olu Jacobs are expected to make their way to Nigeria for the tributes.
His contemporaries and mentees are also expected to use the occasion to reflect on the extraordinary career of a man who helped lay the foundation for the modern Nigerian film industry.
His death has effectively closed another chapter in the history of Nigerian entertainment.
His generation transformed theatre and film from a largely local cultural enterprise into an industry capable of commanding global attention.
His performances, mentorship and contribution to the Nigerian entertainment industry continue to influence actors and filmmakers decades after many of his most memorable performances.
Now, as the entertainment capital prepares to receive his colleagues and admirers, the message is clear: Olu Jacobs may have taken his final bow, but the character he played in the story of Nigerian cinema will never be written out.
On September 30, Lagos will remember him, On October 2, Nollywood will bid him farewell and thereafter, the name Olu Jacobs will remain permanently etched in the history of Nigerian cinema.
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