Olu Jacobs funeral plans have been announced, with a Night of Tributes on September 30 and a funeral service on October 2 as family, colleagues and fans prepare to honour the late Nollywood icon.
Olu Jacobs funeral plans are now clear, with the family announcing dates and venues for the final farewell to the veteran Nollywood actor.
The late actor, whose death at the age of 84 was announced on September 16, will be honoured through a Night of Tributes in Lagos before a funeral service two days later. The announcement has given colleagues, friends, family members and admirers a clearer picture of how the family plans to celebrate his life and career.
The arrangements come just days after the entertainment industry was thrown into mourning following the death of one of the most recognisable figures in Nigerian theatre, television and film.
Olu Jacobs Funeral Begins With Night of Tributes
The first major event in the funeral programme will be a Night of Tributes scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
According to the announced programme, the event will begin at 4 p.m. at Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos Island. Guests attending the tribute evening have been asked to appear in shades of blue.
The Night of Tributes is expected to give colleagues, friends, industry contemporaries and admirers an opportunity to remember Jacobs and reflect on the career that made him a major figure in Nigerian entertainment.
For many in the industry, the gathering will also be a chance to share personal memories of an actor whose career stretched across generations.
Family Fixes October 2 for Funeral Service
The main funeral service has been scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2026, at 10 a.m.
The service will take place at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, with the family selecting shades of green as the dress code for the ceremony.
Reports on the family’s burial arrangements also indicate that the service will be followed by a private burial.
The two-part programme means that those close to Jacobs will have an opportunity to publicly celebrate his life before the family holds the final stage of the farewell privately.
The choice of separate colours for the two occasions also gives the events distinct identities, with blue set for the tribute evening and green for the funeral service.
Joke Silva Invites Tinubu to Olu Jacobs Funeral
Jacobs’ widow, veteran actress Joke Silva, has also formally invited President Bola Tinubu to attend the funeral ceremonies.
In a letter dated September 23, Silva expressed the family’s appreciation for the President’s condolence message following Jacobs’ death and his recognition of the actor’s contribution to Nigeria’s creative industry.
She invited him to the Night of Tributes and funeral service as the family prepares to pay its final respects.
The invitation adds a public dimension to what will otherwise remain a deeply personal period for the Jacobs family, while also reflecting the wider recognition of the late actor’s contribution to Nigerian culture.
A Career That Crossed Generations
Olu Jacobs was born Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs on July 11, 1942, and built a career spanning more than five decades.
Before becoming one of Nollywood’s most familiar faces, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and worked in British television and international film.
His career included appearances in British productions and international movies before he returned to Nigeria and became a major figure in the country’s growing film industry.
His commanding screen presence made him particularly recognisable for roles as traditional rulers, chiefs, fathers and other authoritative figures. But his work was not limited to film.
His career also covered theatre and television, giving him a rare connection with audiences across different eras of Nigerian entertainment.
Jacobs also built a creative partnership with Joke Silva beyond acting. The couple co-founded the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, extending their contribution into film production, distribution and performing arts education.
His achievements included the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, as well as other industry honours. He was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Final Farewell to a Nollywood Icon
With the funeral programme now announced, attention will turn to Lagos as the entertainment community prepares to gather in remembrance of Olu Jacobs.
The Night of Tributes on September 30 is expected to provide the more public celebration of his life, while the October 2 funeral service will mark the formal farewell before the reported private burial.
For an actor whose career stretched from British television and international productions to the development of Nigeria’s modern film industry, the ceremonies will close one chapter while leaving behind a body of work that continues to define his place in African entertainment.
Olu Jacobs’ final farewell will therefore be more than a funeral programme. It will be a moment for family, friends, colleagues and generations of viewers to come together and remember a man whose presence on stage and screen became part of Nigeria’s cultural story.
