He Said No! Joke Silva Reveals Why Her Father Opposed Her Marriage To Olu Jacobs

Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva has revealed that her father initially disapproved of her relationship with Olu Jacobs because of their significant age gap — a difference of 19 years.

Speaking on the Stephen Akintayo Leadership podcast, the celebrated thespian recounted meeting Jacobs during the early stages of her acting career, when she sought his guidance. She recalled how one of her sisters, Toyin Olawoye, encouraged the relationship, telling her, “Joke, this is the man to take to Daddy.”

Despite the couple’s deep connection, Silva said her father was uncomfortable with the age difference. However, her mother offered full support, noting that her own marriage had a similar age gap.

Now 63, Silva described Jacobs as an already accomplished actor at the time, who encouraged her to pursue formal drama education rather than a university degree in Theatre Arts. Their bond strengthened as he guided and supported her career choices.

The couple tied the knot in 1984, when Silva was just 24 years old. She admitted, “I was in love with him. It’s as simple as that. He was just a very gorgeous person.”

She also shared that it was Jacobs who advised her not to drop her maiden name after marriage, recognizing the value of her growing brand. “He said my brand had already started forming before we met, and changing it could hurt my career. Everyone still knew I was Mrs. Jacobs, even though I kept the name Joke Silva professionally,” she explained.