Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late industry icon Olu Jacobs, hailing him as a consummate professional whose discipline and high standards left an indelible mark on Nigerian cinema.
In an interview with BBC News Africa shared on Instagram on Friday, Kanayo reflected on Jacobs’ legendary work ethic, punctuality and passion for nurturing the next generation of actors.
“You wouldn’t tell an Olu Jacobs that call time is nine and he’s not there by 8.30,” Kanayo recalled, underscoring the late actor’s unmatched professionalism.
He described Jacobs as a performer who brought decades of experience to every set and delivered a fresh interpretation with each new scene. “For those of us who were opportuned to be on set with him, he was just that consummate actor who played his part well. And every new scene came with a new interpretation,” Kanayo said.
Beyond his craft, Jacobs was also a generous mentor. “Always willing to teach the younger ones on how they can be better actors. And God save you if you’re on set with Mr. Olu Jacobs and you’re not proving yourself to be an actor,” Kanayo added.
The two stars once shared the screen in a film produced by Lancelot Imasuen in Benin, where Jacobs portrayed a king and father to Kanayo’s prince. Looking back, Kanayo expressed a quiet sense of loss: “I would have wished that he stayed more. He has played his part and it’s time the Lord called him home.”
Olu Jacobs, one of Nollywood’s most respected figures, passed away at the age of 84. His family announced his death on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
