Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor has expressed sadness over missing the funeral service of her late colleague, Olu Jacobs. The legendary actor was laid to rest on Friday, 2 October 2026, with several colleagues and other personalities in attendance to pay their final respects. Ozokwor, currently in Ghana, said she was heartbroken that she could not be in Nigeria for the funeral due to contractual obligations.
In a message shared on her Instagram page, the veteran actress said she would have given anything to attend the funeral. “It hurts my heart that I am not physically present in Nigeria today to pay my last respects to the great legend, Olu Jacobs,” she wrote. “I would give anything to be there right now, but contractual obligations will not allow me to. My heart and thoughts are with you all. I pray everything goes peacefully and that his remarkable legacy lives on. Though I may not be there in person, please know that I am with you all in spirit. Rest well, great legend. Your legacy will forever remain. Go well, great legend. Ga nke Oma. Until we meet to part no more.”
Actor Chiwetalu Agu, mourning Jacobs, described him as more than an actor, calling him a giant of the Nigerian film industry. Agu said words failed him as he came to terms with the death of the veteran actor. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential aspirant, said he was saddened by Jacobs’ death. Obi described the late actor as an embodiment of the excellence of the Nigerian spirit, noting his contributions to the film and creative industry. He said Jacobs’ life demonstrated “the power of talent, discipline, professionalism, and dedication to one’s craft.” Actress Rita Dominic described Jacobs as an icon and legend, saying he was a gift to the film industry. Dominic expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have worked alongside the late actor. Veteran actor Pete Edochie described Jacobs as his brother, saying he “fought like a man and a soldier,” while describing him as a humorous personality and a peaceful colleague.
Jacobs, known as the “Lion of Lufodo,” had a career spanning more than five decades. He trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company in London before returning to Nigeria, where his work in productions including The Third Eye and numerous Nollywood films established him as one of the most recognised figures in the industry. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and received the Industry Merit Award in 2013. He and his wife, Joke Silva, co-founded the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the training and development of performers. He was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, and his wife became a public advocate for mental health awareness and dignified care for the elderly.
Winners and Losers
Winners: Joke Silva and the Jacobs family, who receive public recognition of a life well lived. Nollywood, which gains a moment of collective reflection on its origins.
Losers: The Nigerian public, which loses a cultural icon. Younger actors, who lose a living link to the industry’s foundational generation. Patience Ozokwor, who could not be present to honour her colleague.
Bottom Line: Olu Jacobs was not just an actor. He was a builder. His legacy lives in the industry he helped create and the family he left behind.