The family of veteran Nigerian actor Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, known as Olu Jacobs, has shared the dates for his funeral arrangements.
The funeral details were made public on Wednesday. Veteran actress Gloria Anozie Young revealed the burial plans, while Jacobs’ wife, Joke Silva, invited President Bola Tinubu to the events in a letter dated the same day.
Mr Jacobs passed away on September 16 at the age of 84. He will be honored at the Night of Tributes on Wednesday, September 30, at Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos Island.
The event is set to start at 4 p.m., with guests expected to wear shades of blue.
His funeral service will take place two days later, on Friday, October 2, at 10 a.m. This will be held at This Present House, Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. The dress code for the funeral is shades of green.
The arrangements were included in a letter signed by Joke Silva on September 23. The letter was also addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In the letter, Silva thanked Mr Tinubu for his condolence message after Jacobs’ death and for recognizing his work in Nigeria’s creative industry.
"We are deeply touched by Your Excellency’s gesture and sincerely appreciate your support and prayers," she expressed.
Mr Tinubu, in his condolence message after Jacobs’ passing, called the actor a major figure in Nigeria’s creative industry. He noted that Jacobs’ work had shaped the country’s cultural identity and global standing.
The letter from the Jacobs family also invites the President to the funeral events.
Jacobs died on September 16, marking the end of a career that lasted over fifty years in theatre, television, and film.
His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced the news in a statement describing his father as "The Lion of Lufodo."
The family noted his dates as July 11, 1942, to September 16, 2026. They also asked bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy during this mourning period.
Born in Kano to parents from Egba-Alake in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Jacobs developed a passion for drama at a young age. He later moved to Britain, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
Jacobs had a professional career that included work with major British and international organizations like the BBC, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Walt Disney, MGM, and Universal Pictures, as noted by the Lufodo Group. His work spanned stage, television, film, and radio.
After returning to Nigeria, he became a key figure in the country’s growing film industry.
He and Joke Silva co-founded the Lufodo Group, which focuses on film production, distribution, and performing arts education. They also created the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts to train performers and support Nigeria’s creative industry.
Jacobs received many awards throughout his career, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the national honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
His death led to an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, filmmakers, political leaders, and fans across Nigeria and beyond.
With the funeral program now announced, the Night of Tributes on September 30 will give friends, colleagues, and admirers a chance to celebrate Jacobs’ life and career before the funeral service on October 2.
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