The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, the President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Amusan, popularly called Mr Latin, and other Nollywood actors, including Yinka Quadri, were among hundreds of sympathisers who gathered at the Agunloye Ashade Pavilion, Ilaro, on Monday to pay their last respects to the late veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died of cancer on Sunday. In his short remark during the Muslim prayers held for the late actor, Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Wasiu Isiaka, described the deceased as an exceptional theatre practitioner and icon whose demise was painful to all. The governor said, “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. “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 expressed his appreciation to the people, especially members of the entertainment industry, for standing by the deceased’s family at such a trying time, urging everyone to take solace in the fact that the late actor lived an impactful life and contributed meaningfully to national development. Also speaking with journalists, TAMPAN National President, Amusan, described Ogogo as a complete gentleman of reputable character whose passage had brought much sorrow to the entertainment industry. He said, “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 urged the family of the deceased to keep alive the enduring legacy of the late thespian. He said, “My charge is that the family should keep his legacy going. Ogogo is dead, but his legacy should be kept alive.” Speaking during the janazah prayer, the Wakeel Muslim for the South-West, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal, urged people to live rightly, as death is inevitable for all mortals. Lawal, who is also the Consultant on Islamic Affairs to the Ogun State Government, also urged theatre practitioners to learn to speak out in time when facing challenges and always remain united in all their endeavours, noting that the storm of life could arise at any time. He hailed Hassan’s contributions to the entertainment industry, describing them as legendary, and prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the deceased eternal rest. PUNCH Online reports that the news of the actor’s death was confirmed by multiple sources, including the founder of Best of Nollywood, Seun Oloketuyi. Oloketuyi reportedly announced the death in a post on social media, writing, “Taiwo Hassan Ogogo is dead. “He finally lost the battle of life.” Ogogo’s daughter, Kaira Taiwo, was also seen crying during a live session on Instagram on Sunday, where she expressed disbelief over her father’s death. Nigerian actor and filmmaker, Saheed Balogun, also mourned the veteran actor in an Instagram post. “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,” Balogun wrote. The actor’s death came days after his daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, appealed for medical assistance for their father, who had been battling stage-four cancer. On Monday, August 17, 2026, the sisters took to social media to seek medical advice and assistance for the actor. According to Kaira, doctors had informed the family that they could no longer administer chemotherapy due to his condition. The family subsequently sought alternative treatment options, including specialised medical procedures and traditional remedies. Ogogo was a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly known for his contributions to Yoruba-language films.
