Dignitaries, Stars Mourn as Veteran Actor Ogogo Gets Final Farewell

On Monday, hundreds of sympathizers, including Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, the President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Mr. Bolaji Amusan (popularly known as Mr. Latin), and Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri, gathered at the Agunloye Ashade Pavilion in Ilaro. They convened to pay their last respects to the late veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan, famously known as Ogogo, who succumbed to cancer on Sunday.

During Muslim prayers held for the deceased, Governor Abiodun, represented by his Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Wasiu Isiaka, delivered a brief remark. He lauded Ogogo as an exceptional theatre practitioner and an icon whose demise deeply pained everyone.

“We are here this morning to join the family, friends, and indeed the whole of Nigeria to mourn the demise of Mr Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo—a true icon, a proud Yoruba man, somebody that you are always proud to associate with and say this indeed is my brother,” the governor’s representative stated. He added, “Today, we are mourning him, and I believe that we are all learning from him. Because the last time I saw Mr Ogogo was when he came to my office to come and see his daughter, this means that Ogogo, apart from being an icon in town, is also a father to his children. So today, I want to implore everybody, especially the children, to believe in God, that nothing can happen without the knowledge of Allah. It has happened, though sadly and full of sorrow, but what else can we do? We cannot query God. Because of that, take solace in the fact that he lived a very good life.”

The governor, through his representative, extended gratitude to all attendees, especially members of the entertainment industry, for supporting the bereaved family during this difficult period. He urged everyone to find comfort in the knowledge that the late actor led an impactful life and made significant contributions to national development.

Speaking to journalists, TAMPAN National President Amusan described Ogogo as a complete gentleman of reputable character, whose passing brought immense sorrow to the entertainment industry. “Ogogo was a complete gentleman, a man of reputable character. He’s a man of the people; this was evident when he was sick; people unknown to me were all eager to help, but he is gone now,” Amusan recounted.

Amusan implored the deceased’s family to uphold the enduring legacy of the late thespian. He advised, “My charge is that the family should keep his legacy going. Ogogo is dead, but his legacy should be kept alive.”

During the janazah prayer, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal, the Wakeel Muslim for the South-West, Edo, and Delta regions, emphasized the universal inevitability of death for all mortals and encouraged people to live righteously. Sheikh Lawal, who also serves as the Consultant on Islamic Affairs to the Ogun State Government, urged theatre practitioners to articulate their challenges promptly and maintain unity in their professional pursuits, reminding them that life’s storms can arise unexpectedly.

He commended Hassan’s “legendary” contributions to the entertainment industry and offered prayers for Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest.

PUNCH Online confirmed the actor's death through various sources, including Seun Oloketuyi, the founder of Best of Nollywood. Oloketuyi reportedly announced the news on social media, writing, “Taiwo Hassan Ogogo is dead. He finally lost the battle of life.”

Ogogo’s daughter, Kaira Taiwo, was observed crying during an Instagram live session on Sunday, expressing her disbelief at her father’s passing. Nigerian actor and filmmaker Saheed Balogun also mourned the veteran actor in an Instagram post. Balogun wrote, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. You can rest now my brother Taiwo Hassan Ogogo. May Almighty Allah guide you through Aljannah. This is truly painful.”

The actor’s death came just days after his daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, had appealed for medical assistance for their father, who was battling stage-four cancer. On Monday, August 17, 2026, the sisters took to social media to seek medical advice and support. According to Kaira, doctors had informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered due to his advanced condition. Consequently, the family explored alternative treatment options, including specialized medical procedures and traditional remedies.

Ogogo was a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly celebrated for his significant contributions to Yoruba-language films.