BREAKING: Nigeria Mourns as Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.

The death of the celebrated actor was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

The family described Olu Jacobs as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect the family’s privacy during the mourning period.

The statement read in part:
“It is with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought, that we announce the passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather and uncle. The Lion of Lufodo.”

The family identified him as Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs (MFR) and gave his dates of birth and death as July 11, 1942 – September 16, 2026.

Olu Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most respected veteran actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film.

He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in England and began his professional acting career in Britain, where he worked with repertoire theatres and appeared in British television productions and international films.

After returning to Nigeria, Jacobs became a major figure in the country’s entertainment industry and was widely regarded as one of the pioneering actors who helped shape modern Nollywood.

Throughout his illustrious career, he received several major awards and honours. In 2007, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

He later received the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

In recognition of his contribution to the Nigerian entertainment industry and national life, he was conferred with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) national honour in 2011.

Olu Jacobs was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, with whom he had children.

His death marks the passing of one of the most prominent figures in Nigeria’s acting and film industry, leaving behind a legacy built over decades of distinguished performances on stage and screen.

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