Tinubu join oda Nigerians to pay tributes to legendary actor Olu Jacobs wey kpai at 84

Plenti tributes don dey pour in for ogbonge Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, wey pipo sabi well-well as Olu Jacobs, wey die at di age of 84, afta e battle dementia wit Lewy Bodies for many years.

President Bola Tinubu for statement wey im tok-tok pesin Bayo Onanuga issue express sadness ova di passing of di legend.

Family of di veteran actor wey announce im death on Wednesday morning, say Olu Jacobs pass away on Wednesday, 16 September at di age of 84.

"Na wit gratitude to God for life well lived and fought, dat we announce di passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather and uncle. The Lion of Lufodo. Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs (MFR)," di family tok on Instagram.

President Tinubu describe late Olu Jacobs as one of Nigeria most distinguished actors and a towering figure wey im remarkable career cova theatre, television and film globally.

"E be giant of di Nigerian creative industry. Im passing na great loss to Nigeria, di African feem industry plus di global community of lovers of di performing arts."

Di president also condole wit im family.

Olu Jacobs bin appear for British television for di 1970s bifor e begin feem production for Nigeria for di 1980s.

Olu Jacobs bring different dimension wey include extensive stage and international experience, different characters and career wey cross Nigerian and British entertainment.

Di family wey announce im death on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, describe am as "Di Lion of Lufodo".

E dey survived by Joke Silva, dia children and grandchildren.

Tributes pour in for Olu Jacobs

Plenti celebrities, colleagues, politicians and fans don dey mourn di death of Olu Jacobs as dem react to di tori of im death.

Many of dem enta social media to pay tributes to di legend.

Di presidential candidate of di African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, di Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and ogbonge actors like Alex Usifo, Jide Kosoko, Kate Henshaw, Charles Onojie, Funke Akindele, and Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), among odas, don also mourn di ace actor.

For one tweet on im X page, Oga Atiku tok say no be just actor Nigeria lost, but di kontri "lost institution, cultural icon and one of di finest ambassadors of our creative spirit".

Di Minister of Art, Culture and Tourism Hannatu Musawa for her tribute say, "A giant of Nigerian theatre and feem, Olu Jacobs leave behind legacy wey don shape generations and help lay di foundation for di industry we celebrate today."

"Olu Jacobs bring rare dignity and power to di screen. Im performances remind us say Nigerian stories deserve global audience, and im dedication help build di industry we celebrate today. Im greatest tribute go be di generations of actors wey continue to draw inspiration from im work," Senator Ben Bruce tok.

Ogbonge actor Richard Mofe-Damijo describe Oga Jacobs death as one of dose losses wey dey make pipo struggle to find di right words, as e say "no words fit fully capture di magnitude of di loss".

Kate Henshaw tweet say Olu Jacobs spend im life sharing im talent wit di world.

"Adieu to a great one. Rest well, Uncle Olu Jacobs. May God comfort my darling Aunty J, Soji, Gbenga & di rest of di family in Jesus' name," she write.

For 2021, inside interview wit tori pesin, Chude Jideonwo, Joke Silva say her husband bin dey battle wit "Dementia wit Lewy Bodies".

Dis na di first time she go speak about her husband health for public.

Silva say her husband don dey battle wit di sickness wey dey affect di brain for years now.

"E dey deal wit issues and e don dey on for a couple of years. Na dementia wit Lewy Bodies, na degenerative disease wey dey affect di brain and e dey almost like Parkinson type of disease, e dey affect di brain and affect di pesin," she tok dat time.

Silva add say she miss di old Olu Jacobs well-well. "I don go through some times and situations recently wey I wish say di old you dey here so I no go battle dis times on my own but we dey grateful for di moment of clarity ….I miss di times we work togeda!" she tok.

According to UK National Health Service, NHS, Dementia wit Lewy Bodies (DLB), dey also known as Lewy Body Dementia, and na one of di most common types of dementia.

Dementia na di name for problems wit mental abilities wey dey happun sake of gradual changes and damage for di brain. E dey rare in pipo under 65. E dey develop slowly and dey worsen over several years.

Profile of Olu Jacobs

Dem born Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs for 11 July 1942.

E train for Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for London bifor e begin im career wey take am from British television and international feems to become one of Nollywood defining actors.

E bin appear for more dan 100 feem and receive several honours, including African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for 2007 and di national honour of Member of di Order of di Federal Republic for 2011.

Togeda wit im wife, actress Joke Silva, e establish Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.

For recent years, Olu Jacobs bin live wit Dementia wit Lewy Bodies, condition wey keep am away from di active movie scene. Rumours of im death bin circulate several times, including for 2021 and 2024, but im family bin confam say e dey alive.

Olu Jacobs come from Egba Alake for Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. E bin spend im early childhood for Kano and attend Holy Trinity School, wia e dey part of debating and drama societies.

E get inspiration to try acting wen e attend one of Chief Hubert Ogunde annual concert parties for Colonial Hotel for Kano.

Afta dat, e get visa and travel go England to study acting.

E start im career by acting for several British television series and international feems.

Olu Jacobs train for The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for England.

E work wit different repertoire theatres for Britain and act for some international movies.

For 2007, Olu Jacobs win Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

E receive Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievement in acting for di 2013 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, and MAA Lifetime Achievement Award for 2016.

For 2011, dem give am national honour of Member of di Order of di Federal Republic.

Olu Jacobs marry im fellow Nollywood actor Joke Silva since 1989.