July 17, (THEWILL) – Last Monday, stakeholders in the movie industry, politicians, technocrats, businessmen and women, gathered to celebrate one of the Nigeria’s movie industry’s veterans, Olu Jacobs. It was his 80th birthday celebration and despite the fact that he suffers from dementia with lewy bodies, a degenerative disease that affects the brain, almost like Parkinsons disease, his wife, Joke Silva, deemed it wise to celebrate him. When she announced a few days before the party that the birthday party would take place at Glover Memorial Hall, many naturally assumed it was because the place holds fond memories of having hosted stage plays in the past and with Olu Jacobs himself also a stage actor, it kind of made sense that the party would take place there. What most people did not know was that Glover Memorial Hall was concessioned to Lufodo Productions by the Lagos State government. Lufodo Productions, an entertainment company, is owned by both Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva. In fact, the day of the birthday celebrations marked exactly one year the concession took place in 2021. But Joke is quick to insist that their production company won the bid to take over the building, fair and square.
A historical monument, Glover Memorial Hall was built in 1887 on a piece of land donated by Madam Tinubu and named in honour of Sir John Glover, the then Governor of Lagos Colony. Not only was it built to be the place for Lagos social life and as a cultural hub, notable artistes such as Kola Ogunmola, Oyin Adejobi and Hubert Ogunde premiered their productions at the hall. The first film ever produced in Nigeria was also screened there.
In addition, on two occasions, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had come to Joke Silva’s rescue when she had no one else to turn to. The first time, was when she was in dire straits and needed to pay some money to the Lagos State Government but couldn’t. However, when she put a call through to Sanwo-Olu, informing him about her problem, he rallied around and bailed her out.
The second time was during the EndSars protest that rocked the nation in 2020. Lufodo Academy for Performing Arts, which was set up in a rented apartment at City Hall, was ransacked and equipment valued at N12 million was destroyed. The hoodlums took every single part of the equipment. The production company was just getting back on its feet after it had been shut down for three years with a year’s rent already paid. Again she called on Sanwo-Olu and he, in his magnanimity, bailed her out.
Aside from these kind gestures, Joke has always been involved with any initiative set up by the Lagos State Government as it concerns the entertainment industry. Back in May 2020 in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the actress was appointed Chair of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture COVID-19 Pandemic Review Committee to reactivate the state’s creative industry. Also, during erstwhile governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s tenure, she was appointed as a board member of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture. The board at that time was tasked with generating local and international events to showcase and promote the state’s diverse talents in the field of creative arts, music, entertainment and sports, as well as to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage while being sensitive to the diverse cultures of the citizens of the State.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
