Jab Adu popularly known as Doctor Bassey Okon in Village Headmaster passes away at 83

VETERAN Nollywood actor Jab Adu most famously known for his role in the 1970s and 80s soap Village Headmaster where he played the comical role of Doctor Bassey Okon has died at the age of 83.

 

Born Joseph Babatunde Abiodun Adu, the popular actor passed away last night at his home in Abeokuta in Ogun State, although it is not known if he was ill. A banker cum film producer, Mr Adu also featured in Bisi, Daughter of the River and Adio Family, a popular 1980s TV series he co-produced with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

 

Although born in Calabar, the Cross Rivers State capital, Mr Adu started his education at the primary section of Baptist Academy in Lagos when his father relocated from Calabar to Lagos. Between 1946 and 1951, he attended St Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos and then worked at the British Bank for West Africa, now First Bank.

 

He later travelled to Britain where he studied banking at the Westminster City College, London and graduated as an associate of the Institute of Bankers. His passion for drama made him to enrol at Morley College of Drama, South London and from there, his acting career took off.

 

Mr Adu said: “I’d always wanted to do drama. In fact, before I left Lagos, I belonged to a theatre group.

 

“The acting talent had been there and because I didn’t want to disappoint my parents, I did the first thing, read and worked as a banker. While working in the bank, I was sent abroad to read banking and I completed the banking course, and then I did what I wanted to do."

 

Upon his return to Nigeria, Mr Adu worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria before his acting career took off. In 1964 when the NTA took off, he was invited to work on proposals and ended up landing the plum role with Village Headmaster.