Nigerians are paying tribute to veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, who died at the age of 84, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senator Shehu Sani among prominent voices describing his death as a huge loss to the country’s creative industry.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday, Atiku said Nigeria had lost “far more than a great actor,” describing Jacobs as an institution, a cultural icon and one of the finest ambassadors of the nation’s creative spirit.
He recalled the actor’s commanding presence and unmistakable voice, noting that Jacobs was already carrying the Nigerian name with distinction long before Nollywood became a global phenomenon.
According to Atiku, Jacobs helped lay the foundations on which the Nigerian film industry was built, giving life to the nation’s stories and inspiring generations of younger actors who followed in his footsteps.
He extended his condolences to Jacobs’ wife, Joke Silva, their children, the Jacobs family, and the wider Nollywood community, praying for the repose of the actor’s soul and comfort for his family.
Also reacting, Senator Shehu Sani described the news of Jacobs’ death as sad, recalling how the actor’s Ribena television advertisement in the 1970s and early 1980s made him a beloved figure among schoolchildren of that generation.
Sani said Jacobs was an inspiration to generations of creative and movie artists who would be greatly missed, and offered his condolences to the actor’s wife, whom he said had stood by him through thick and thin.
