Nollywood has said its final goodbye to veteran actor Olu Jacobs, as family members, friends, colleagues and public figures gathered in Lagos on Friday to honour the life and legacy of the celebrated screen icon.
Olu Jacobs was laid to rest after a funeral service held at the Freedom Centre in Lekki, where members of Nigeria’s entertainment industry came together to remember an actor whose career spanned several decades.
Among those who attended the ceremony were Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Several Nollywood personalities also turned out to pay their respects, including Shaffy Bello, Keppy Ekpeyong, Stan Nze, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, Ireti Doyle, Lala Akindoju, Kate Henshaw, OC Ukeje, Patrick Doyle, Stephanie Okereke and Ernest Obi.
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- Nollywood, Family And Friends Bid Final Farewell To Olu Jacobs
A Legacy Built Across Generations
Olu Jacobs was remembered not only for his long career but also for the influence he had on Nigerian theatre, television and film.
His farewell came days after a service of songs and night of tributes held on Wednesday, where colleagues, friends and loved ones reflected on his life and his contribution to the entertainment industry.
Born in 1942 to parents from Egba Alake, Olu Jacobs spent part of his childhood in Kano. His interest in acting reportedly began after he watched a performance by the Hubert Ogunde Concert Party at the Colonial Hotel in the city.
He later travelled to the United Kingdom, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
His professional acting career took him from the British stage to television before he became one of the most recognisable faces in Nigerian film and television.
Olu Jacobs’ Journey From The Stage To Nollywood
Olu Jacobs began building his stage career in the 1970s. In 1972, he appeared as The Boy in A Taste of Honey at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
He went on to feature in several British television productions, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part and Barlow at Large.
In 1978, he played President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s production of Sir Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day.
His return to Nigeria eventually saw him become a major figure in the country’s growing film and television industry. With his commanding voice, stage experience and distinctive screen presence, Jacobs became a familiar face to generations of Nigerian viewers.
A Lasting Legacy
For many who attended Friday’s funeral, the occasion was more than a farewell to a celebrated actor. It was a moment to honour a man whose work helped shape Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
As family, friends and colleagues gathered in Lagos for the final rites, Olu Jacobs was remembered as an actor whose career crossed generations and whose contribution to Nigerian theatre, television and film will remain part of the country’s cultural history.
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