Sola Sobowale remembers Olu Jacobs as her mentor

Nollywood actress Sola Sobowale has paid tribute to late veteran actor Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, describing him as the person who trained her in the Nigerian movie industry. Sobowale spoke on Wednesday at a Night of Tribute held for Jacobs at Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos State. Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, aged 84, according to the supplied report.

His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs. The actress said audiences often praised her acting without knowing the role Jacobs played in developing her career. “Somebody trained me and Baba Olu Jacobs was that person who trained me,” she said, describing him as a man of knowledge, wisdom and selflessness.

Sobowale, also known as Toyin Tomato after her character in the television series Super Story, recalled that Jacobs regularly cautioned and advised her. She demonstrated his familiar hand gesture while recounting how he would respond when she brought him what she called her “wahala”. She said his gestures communicated both caution and advice, adding that they reflected the intelligence behind his acting.

Her remarks presented Jacobs not only as a celebrated performer but also as a mentor to colleagues in the industry. Another veteran actor, Adebayo Salami, known as Oga Bello, recalled meeting Jacobs in 1997 while working on the film script Okunfa. Salami said Jacobs agreed to review the script, travelled to meet him and contributed two ideas after reading it.

Salami said Jacobs had thought of elements that had not occurred to him and described the late actor as a professional who showed he was a father. He urged Jacobs’s children to continue immortalising his name. Family, friends and actors including Jide Kosoko, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Kate Henshaw, Norbert Young, Femi Adebayo and Funke Akindele attended the tribute.