Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva, has shared intimate details about how she first met her husband and fellow screen icon, Olu Jacobs, revealing that while he experienced love at first sight, she did not.
Speaking during an appearance on TVC’s Your View, Silva recounted that their first encounter happened on a movie set, though she was initially unaware of Jacobs’ towering reputation in the industry.
According to her, the excitement on set was palpable ahead of his arrival, but she remained oblivious to the buzz.
“Yes, we met on stage, and when we met on a movie set, everybody knew the great Olu Jacobs was coming, except me,” she said with a laugh. “When he came, we got on very well, and I discovered his age only after we started dating because he looked so good. For him, it was love at first sight, but for me, it wasn’t.”
Silva explained that while Jacobs was immediately smitten, she took her time before fully embracing the relationship. Despite the initial difference in emotional pace, their bond blossomed into one of Nollywood’s most admired marriages.
The couple exchanged vows in 1985, at a time when Silva was 24 and Jacobs 44. Their union has since spanned decades and produced two children.
Reflecting on the secret to their enduring marriage, Silva credited Jacobs’ maturity and understanding nature as a stabilising force in their relationship.
“This older man allows you to get away with a lot of things,” she noted, highlighting the balance that has sustained their partnership through the years.
Today, their love story remains one of the most celebrated in Nigeria’s entertainment industry—a testament to patience, understanding, and enduring commitment.