Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva has opened up about why she chose to retain her maiden name after marrying fellow actor Olu Jacobs.
Speaking on Stephen Akintayo’s Leadership podcast, Silva clarified that her decision wasn’t driven by feminism or a desire to make a statement. Instead, it was a strategic move advised by her husband early in their relationship.
According to Silva, Olu Jacobs recognized the importance of personal branding and encouraged her to stick with the name she had already begun building in the industry.
“He was the one who advised me not to change my name,” she explained. “He understood branding and said the name I had started building before we met was already gaining recognition. Changing it could create setbacks for my career.”
Despite keeping her professional name, Silva shared that within their private lives, she is known as Mrs. Jacobs.
Reflecting on their personal journey, Silva also spoke about the 19-year age difference between her and Jacobs, saying it never hindered their relationship.
“I was 24 when we got married in 1985. He was about 19 or 20 years older than me. I accepted because I was in love—simple as that. He was a gorgeous person,” she said.
She also recalled a moment of support from her sister, Toyin Olawoye, who encouraged her to introduce Jacobs to their father despite his age. While her father had reservations about the age gap, her mother was more accepting, noting that she and her husband had a similar age difference.
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