Nollywood mourns Ogogo as Tinubu, Abiodun pay tribute

Veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has been buried in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, with family members, colleagues, government officials and hundreds of sympathisers gathering to pay their final respects to the Yoruba film icon.

The interment was conducted according to Islamic rites at the actor’s residence in Ilaro, while prayers were held at the Agunloye Ashade Pavilion.

The President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, and veteran actors including Mr Yinka Quadri were among the Nollywood personalities who attended the funeral.

Representing Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasiu Isiaka, led government officials to the burial and conveyed the governor’s condolences to the deceased’s family.

Mr Isiaka described Hassan as an icon and family man whose life had touched many people.

“We are here this morning to join the family, friends, and indeed the whole of Nigeria in mourning, not just a person, but an icon, a true icon, a family man,” he said.

He urged the deceased’s children and relatives to take solace in the life he lived and trust in God.

“Nothing can happen without the knowledge of Allah. It has happened, though sadly and with great sorrow, but what else can we do? We cannot question God. Because of that, take solace in the fact that he lived a very good life,” he added.

Tinubu mourns veteran actor

President Bola Tinubu also mourned Hassan, describing him as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career contributed significantly to the development of Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.

In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said Hassan entertained generations of Nigerians through his acting, screen presence and commitment to his craft.

Mr Tinubu said the actor also helped promote Yoruba culture and Nigeria’s wider cultural heritage, while his mentorship of younger artistes strengthened his legacy in the creative industry.

The President described Hassan’s death as a loss to his family, the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood and Nigeria’s creative community, and prayed for his soul and strength for his loved ones.

Colleagues pay tribute to Ogogo

Mr Amusan described Hassan as a complete gentleman and a man of impeccable character who was loved by people within and outside the entertainment industry.

“Ogogo is dead, but his legacy should be kept alive,” he said, urging the actor’s children to preserve the values and legacy their father left behind.

Veteran actor Jide Kosoko also described Hassan as a gentleman whose kindness and willingness to assist others distinguished him.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, were also among prominent figures who mourned the actor and recognised his contribution to Yoruba culture and the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Ogogo’s final days

Late Hassan died on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at the age of 66, after reportedly battling stage-four cancer. His daughters had appealed for medical assistance shortly before his death after doctors reportedly informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of his condition.

His death triggered an outpouring of grief across Nollywood, with colleagues and fans remembering him for his decades-long contribution to Yoruba-language cinema.

Before becoming a prominent actor, Hassan worked as a mechanic at the Ogun State Water Corporation for about 13 years.

He began acting in 1981 while combining the profession with his mechanic job. In 1994, he left the job to pursue acting full-time and went on to become one of the most recognisable figures in Yoruba-language Nollywood.

Hassan’s career extended beyond entertainment. Through his work in Yoruba theatre and film, he helped preserve cultural stories, language and traditions while reaching audiences across Nigeria and beyond.

His burial in Ilaro therefore marked not only the final farewell to a veteran actor but also the closing chapter of a career that spanned decades and left a lasting imprint on Nigeria’s creative industry.