Veteran Nigerian actor and filmmaker, Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84, according to a family announcement shared on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.

The announcement identified him by his full name, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, MFR, and said he died on 16 September 2026. He was born on 11 July 1942.

The family described him as a husband, father, grandfather and uncle, and referred to him as “The Lion of Lufodo.”

The family also appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect its privacy during the mourning period.

A career spanning decades

Olu Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most recognisable veteran actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film.

Born to parents from Egba Alake in Ogun State, he spent part of his childhood in Kano before travelling to the United Kingdom, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

He appeared in several British television productions during the 1970s before returning to Nigeria and becoming a prominent figure in the country’s film and television industry.

His international film credits included The Dogs of War, Pirates and Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend, while in Nigeria he became widely known for his work in Nollywood and television, including the NTA series The Third Eye.

National honour, lifetime achievement awards

Jacobs was recognised for his contribution to the Nigerian film industry throughout his career.

He received the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) national honour in 2011. He also received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2013 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016.

He was also honoured with lifetime achievement recognition at the Africa International Film Festival and the iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival.

“The Lion of Lufodo.”

The family used the description in announcing the death of the veteran actor.

His partnership with Joke Silva

Jacobs was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, with whom he established Lufodo, a theatre and film production company.

The couple were also involved in the management of Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos after the Lagos State Government handed its management to Lufodo in 2022.

Silva had previously spoken publicly about her husband’s declining health, while the family had repeatedly pushed back against false reports of his death.

In June 2024, the Actors Guild of Nigeria and members of Jacobs’ family rejected social-media reports that he had died.

Family asks for privacy

The family asked bloggers and social media influencers to respect its privacy at this time.

No details about the cause of death or funeral arrangements were included in the announcement.

Why Olu Jacobs mattered to Nigerian cinema

Jacobs’ career connected Nigeria’s theatre tradition with the country’s modern film and television industry. His work in British productions, Nigerian television and Nollywood made him a familiar figure to several generations of audiences.

His death marks the loss of one of the veteran actors whose careers helped shape Nigeria’s contemporary screen industry.

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, hosted a three-day music and talent activation from September 15 to 17, featuring student competitions, dance performances and a concert as part of Soundcity OnTour.

The event, powered by Bigi Carbonated Soft Drink and Fearless Energy Drink, brands of Rite Foods Limited, gave students an opportunity to compete in music and dance while participating in entertainment activities on campus.

Students compete for ₦1m prize

One of the highlights was the Bigi Music Competition, which brought aspiring student artistes together in a contest featuring different musical styles.

The winner of the YABATECH leg is set to receive a ₦1 million prize and an opportunity to progress to the national stage, according to the organisers.

Students also participated in the Fearless Dance Challenge, showcasing their dance skills as part of the campus activation.

The competitions provided students with opportunities to perform in front of their peers while placing creative expression at the centre of the three-day programme.

Concert brings event to a close

The activation ended on September 17 with a Soundcity OnTour concert featuring Modola, Tariq, Syemca, Slimcase, Mr. P, Kodee, Duuwa and Rukmani.

The performances brought together students for an evening of music and entertainment following the competitions and other activities held during the activation.

Rite Foods explains focus on young creatives

Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods Limited, said the company’s brands were seeking to create platforms through which young Nigerians could express their creativity.

“Young people are not waiting for culture to happen; they are creating it every day.”

Eze said the company wanted its Bigi and Fearless brands to support opportunities for young people to develop their abilities and connect with opportunities.

“Young people are not waiting for culture to happen; they are creating it every day. Through the Bigi and Fearless brands, we want to meet them where that creativity is most visible and give them platforms where they can express themselves, discover their capabilities and connect with opportunities beyond the immediate moment,” he said.

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Why the campus activation matters

Campus entertainment events have increasingly become a way for brands to engage younger audiences while creating platforms for music, dance and other forms of creative expression.

At YABATECH, the Soundcity OnTour programme combined those activities with competitions that gave participating students the opportunity to perform and compete for a financial prize.

The organisers said the YABATECH edition was designed to go beyond a concert by giving students opportunities to compete, perform and express themselves.

More than 260,000 students across 13 Nigerian universities are expected to take part in the 2026 NESCAFÉ Campus Storm, a nationwide campus activation built around music, creativity, entertainment and student self-expression.

The initiative is part of NESCAFÉ’s “My Coffee, My Vibe” campaign and is designed to bring the brand directly into university communities through activities reflecting the interests and aspirations of young Nigerians.

The programme follows International Youth Day, marked on August 12 under the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, which highlights shared aspirations among young people despite differences in their backgrounds and circumstances.

What students can expect

According to NESCAFÉ, the Campus Storm will feature creative, entertainment and social activities across participating universities.

A major component is the NESCAFÉ Express Yourself creative zone, where students will have opportunities to showcase their creativity through art and other forms of expression.

The campus activities will also include DJ sessions, live performances, photo experiences, social media content creation, games, raffle draws and giveaways.

Some of the prizes are intended to support students’ interests and everyday activities, according to the company.

NESCAFÉ links campaign to youth aspirations

Jean Pierre Duplan, Category Lead, Coffee, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, said the initiative was designed around the role universities play in young people’s personal and professional development.

“With ‘My Coffee, My Vibe’, we want to meet them in that moment, creating experiences that recognize their interests and give them room to connect and express themselves.”

Duplan said young Nigerians were not only consumers but also entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals and future leaders.

“University is an important time in that journey – a period when young people are discovering who they are, exploring what matters to them and shaping their ambitions for the future,” he said.

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Campaign builds on previous consumer promotion

NESCAFÉ said the Campus Storm also builds on its recent consumer-focused activities, including the recently concluded NESCAFÉ Next Level Promotion.

The company said more than 40,000 consumers received airtime and cash prizes during the promotion.

It added that the grand-prize winner received tools of trade, business support and access to masterclasses intended to support personal and entrepreneurial development.

Why the campus activation matters

For students, university campuses are not only places for academic activities but also spaces where social networks, creative interests and career ambitions develop.

The Campus Storm positions NESCAFÉ’s youth campaign around those wider aspects of student life, with the company seeking to strengthen its engagement with a generation it describes as creative, ambitious and entrepreneurial.

The initiative will travel across 13 universities, although NESCAFÉ’s statement did not provide the names of the participating institutions or a detailed schedule.