Tributes Pour In From Tinubu, Atiku, Musawa, Keyamo for Olu Jacobs

Nigeria’s entertainment industry woke on Wednesday to the loss of one of the voices that helped define an era.

From the Presidency to opposition politics, from the Federal Executive Council to the Nollywood community, tributes have poured in for veteran actor Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, who died at the age of 84.

His family announced his death on Wednesday, describing him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and asking bloggers and social media influencers to respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.

President Bola Tinubu was among those who paid tribute to the late actor, describing his death as a major loss to Nigeria’s creative sector and to the wider African and global performing arts community.

The President’s tribute highlighted Jacobs’ decades of work across theatre, television and film, as well as the influence of his performances on Nigerian entertainment.

Tinubu described Jacobs as “a giant of the Nigerian creative industry” and said his passing was a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and lovers of the performing arts.

The President also acknowledged the dignity and authenticity Jacobs brought to his roles, while extending his condolences to Joke Silva, their children, relatives, colleagues and the wider creative community.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also reacted to the death, describing Jacobs as much more than an accomplished actor. Atiku said Nigeria had lost an institution and a cultural icon whose career had helped shape the country’s creative identity.

He wrote that Jacobs was “one of the finest ambassadors of our creative spirit”, adding that the actor had become part of the collective memory of generations of Nigerians.

Atiku also reflected on Jacobs’ contribution before Nollywood became an internationally recognised industry, noting that the late actor had already carried Nigeria’s name with distinction through decades of work.

He said Jacobs “gave life to our stories, dignity to our culture, and inspiration to countless younger actors” who followed the path he helped establish.

For Atiku, the loss also carried a deeply personal dimension for the family Jacobs left behind. He extended his condolences to Joke Silva, their children and the entire Jacobs family, while praying that the memories of their life with him would give them strength during the period of mourning.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa also described Jacobs’ death as a major loss to Nigeria and its creative industry. In her tribute, delivered through her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Musawa said Jacobs’ contribution extended far beyond acting.

The minister said, “Olu Jacobs was not just an actor, he was a national institution.” She also described him as one of Africa’s greatest actors and said his voice, presence and craft had given life to Nigerian stories and dignity to the country’s entertainment industry.

Musawa further drew attention to Jacobs’ work beyond the screen, particularly the Lufodo Academy, which he co-founded with Joke Silva. According to the minister, the academy helped train a new generation of actors, directors and filmmakers, extending Jacobs’ influence beyond his own performances into the development of Nigeria’s wider creative sector.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo chose a shorter but striking description of the late actor. Paying tribute to Jacobs, Keyamo described him as a “consummate actor”, a “quintessential professional”, a legend of both screen and stage, a role model and a gentleman.

For veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, however, the death was more than the loss of a celebrated colleague.

RMD remembered Jacobs as “Uncle Jay”, an elder whose return to Nigeria and commitment to the profession helped make the road easier for actors who came after him. Reflecting on Jacobs’ influence on his generation, RMD said his presence helped establish a standard of excellence, discipline and integrity in the profession.

RMD also made a point of separating the public legend from the private man. He said he did not want to remember Jacobs only for his status as an icon, but also as a husband, father, friend and elder.

In his farewell, RMD wrote that Jacobs had “taken your final bow”, but added that the legacy he left in Nigerian art and culture would outlive him.

Actress Kate Henshaw also joined the tributes, remembering Jacobs with an emotional message directed at his family.

She wrote, “Adieu to a great one. Rest well, Uncle Olu Jacobs,” before praying for comfort for Joke Silva and the family.

Funke Akindele, another prominent Nollywood figure, remembered Jacobs not only for his acting but also for the warmth and encouragement he showed younger talents.

In her tribute, Akindele described his legacy and contribution to the industry as something that would not be forgotten. She extended her condolences to Joke Silva, the children, the Jacobs family and the Nigerian film industry, while praying for Jacobs’ eternal rest and for good health and long life for members of the creative community.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the range of the tributes reflects the different dimensions of Olu Jacobs’ influence.

For Tinubu, he represented a giant of the creative industry. For Atiku, he was a cultural institution who helped lay foundations for an industry. Musawa focused on his contribution to the development of Nigeria’s creative sector, while Keyamo remembered the professionalism and stature of the performer. For RMD and other actors who worked alongside him, however, the loss carries another meaning.

They are mourning an elder whose career helped create a path for those who came after him.

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Jacobs’ own career stretched far beyond the boundaries of modern Nollywood. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England, worked in British theatre and television, appeared in international productions and later became one of the defining figures of Nigerian theatre and film.

His contribution was also recognised institutionally. He received the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007, the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2013 and a lifetime achievement award in 2016.

He was also honoured by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic.

ValidViewNetwork had earlier reported that the family had repeatedly been forced to confront false reports of Jacobs’ death in previous years.

This time, however, the announcement came directly from his family, with his son Olusoji Jacobs confirming his death and asking the public to respect their privacy.

There is something fitting about the way the tributes have gathered around Jacobs. An actor who spent decades giving voice to fictional characters has now become the subject of thousands of real-life stories from the people who watched him, worked with him and learned from him.

The applause has stopped, but the record remains. Olu Jacobs may have taken his final bow, but the theatre of Nigerian culture still carries his fingerprints. His films remain, his students remain, the actors he influenced remain, and the standard by which generations remember him remains.ValidViewNetwork reports.