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Nigeria’s political and entertainment circles have been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran Nollywood actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, at the age of 84.
The death of the celebrated actor was announced by his family on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, through his son, Olusoji Jacobs. In the family statement, Olu Jacobs was fondly described as “The Lion of Lufodo,” while the family appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy as they come to terms with the loss.
News of his passing immediately triggered an outpouring of tributes from across Nigeria. Politicians, actors, filmmakers, colleagues and admirers have been remembering the man whose commanding voice, imposing screen presence and ability to bring authority and emotion to his characters made him one of the most recognisable faces in African cinema.
Tinubu: ‘A giant of the Nigerian creative industry’
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was among the first prominent Nigerians to publicly mourn the veteran actor.
In a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described Jacobs as one of Nigeria’s most distinguished actors and a towering figure whose career stretched across theatre, television and film in Nigeria, Britain and other parts of the world.
The President said Jacobs contributed significantly to the development and professionalisation of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, while his talent, discipline and dedication inspired generations of actors and filmmakers.
Tinubu also highlighted Jacobs’ ability to bring depth, dignity and authenticity to the characters he played, qualities that made him admired both at home and internationally.
Describing his passing as a major loss, the President said the late actor was “a giant of the Nigerian creative industry”, adding that his death was a loss not only to Nigeria but also to the African film industry and the wider global community of performing arts lovers.
The President extended his condolences to Jacobs’ wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, their children, relatives, colleagues and the wider Nigerian creative community.Atiku also mournsFormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar also joined the growing list of Nigerians paying tribute to the late actor.
Atiku described Jacobs as an institution and a cultural icon, noting the enormous influence he had on generations of Nigerians who grew up watching him on television and in films.
According to reports, the former Vice President praised Jacobs’ distinctive voice, dignity and talent, while acknowledging his contribution to Nigerian theatre, television and film.
Atiku’s tribute also drew attention to an important part of Jacobs’ career that existed before the global explosion of Nollywood. The actor had already established himself in British theatre and television and had appeared in international productions before returning to Nigeria and becoming one of the defining figures of the country’s emerging film industry.
Other leaders and Nollywood stars pay tributeThe tributes have not been limited to the Presidency and opposition politicians.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and several other public figures have also expressed grief over Jacobs’ death.
Within Nollywood, the reaction has been equally emotional.Actors including Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Kate Henshaw, Funke Akindele, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, Ini Edo, Williams Uchemba, Mr Macaroni, Bukky Wright, Ruth Kadiri, Kehinde Bankole and Bolanle Ninalowo, among others, have shared tributes celebrating the late actor’s life and influence.
For many of them, Jacobs was more than a colleague. He was part of the generation that helped establish the professional standards upon which much of today’s Nigerian film industry was built.
A career that crossed generations
Olu Jacobs’ career was remarkable not simply because of its length, but because of its reach.Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London before embarking on a career that took him through British television, theatre and international cinema. He appeared in productions including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Professionals and The Tomorrow People, among others. He also featured in international films before returning to Nigeria.
When he became a major figure in Nollywood, he brought with him an experience that had been shaped by years of professional theatre and television.
He became particularly known for playing characters of authority — traditional rulers, fathers, chiefs, businessmen and other commanding personalities. His deep voice and deliberate delivery became part of his trademark, making it possible for audiences to recognise him almost immediately.
But there was another side to Jacobs’ contribution that went beyond acting.
Together with his wife, Joke Silva, he established the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, extending their work into film production, distribution and the training of performers.
In that sense, his legacy is not limited to the characters audiences remember from films. It also includes the institutions and professional relationships he helped build around the creative industry.
A decorated careerOver the course of his career, Jacobs received several major honours.
He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and received the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was also conferred with Nigeria’s national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
Those honours reflect the breadth of a career that stretched from the stage to television and ultimately to the international film industry.
But perhaps the most revealing measure of his influence is the reaction following his death.
From established stars to younger actors, many have spoken about his professionalism, generosity and the example he represented to those coming behind him.
‘The Lion of Lufodo’ leaves a lasting legacy
The family’s decision to refer to him as “The Lion of Lufodo” in announcing his death is fitting for an actor whose career was marked by a commanding presence both on and off the screen.
For more than five decades, Olu Jacobs remained part of Nigeria’s evolving entertainment story. He witnessed the transformation from an era when Nigerian actors often had to seek opportunities abroad to the emergence of Nollywood as one of the world’s most recognisable film industries.
He was therefore not simply an actor who participated in Nollywood. He was one of the personalities whose careers helped connect different eras of Nigerian entertainment.
His death at 84 has consequently left a significant gap in the creative community.
President Tinubu’s description of Jacobs as a giant of the creative industry captures the scale of the public reaction, while the tributes from Atiku, government officials and fellow actors demonstrate how widely his influence extended.
Yet perhaps the most enduring part of his legacy will not be found in the headlines announcing his death. It will be found in the films people continue to watch, the performances younger actors continue to study and the creative institutions he helped establish.The curtain has now fallen on the life of Olu Jacobs, but the roles he played and the standard he represented will remain part of Nigeria’s entertainment history.
For his family, colleagues and millions of Nigerians who watched him over the decades, the grief is fresh. But as tributes continue to pour in, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Olu Jacobs did not merely act in Nigeria’s cultural story — he became one of its most recognisable characters.
Funeral arrangements had not been announced at the time of the latest reports, while the family continues to appeal for privacy during the mourning period.
