Veteran Actress ,Joke Silva, to Receive Silverbird Lifetime Achievement Award
Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva has been named recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Silverbird Man of the Year Awards.
Organisers announced the honour in a statement, describing the celebrated thespian as one of the few veterans whose contributions have significantly shaped Nigeria’s entertainment industry and elevated its global profile.
Silva, wife of fellow Nollywood icon Olu Jacobs, will receive the plaque on March 1, 2026, during the grand finale ceremony at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
A highly respected actress, director, and arts administrator, Silva is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern Nigerian theatre and film. She trained in drama at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, London, and co-founded the Lufodo Group, comprising Lufodo Productions and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
Her screen credits include acclaimed films such as Phone Swap, The Amazing Grace, and October 1, as well as the long-running television drama Tinsel.
Silva has received numerous honours, including the national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), in recognition of her contributions to the arts.
Beyond performance, she is widely acknowledged for mentoring younger actors, raising professional standards, and bridging stage theatre with Nollywood cinema.
Alongside Olu Jacobs, she is regarded as part of Nollywood’s foundational generation.
