President Tinubu mourns veteran actor Taiwo ‘Ogogo’ Hassan

President Bola Tinubu has mourned veteran Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing his death as a major loss to Nigeria’s creative industry.

Ogogo died on Sunday at 66 after battling stage-four cancer. His death came days after his daughters publicly disclosed the severity of his illness and sought help connecting him with specialists who could explore further treatment options.

The actor was laid to rest in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, in accordance with Islamic rites.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu extended his condolences to Ogogo’s family, friends, colleagues and admirers.

The president described the veteran actor as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career contributed significantly to the development of the Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.

He said Ogogo’s distinctive acting style, screen presence, and dedication to his craft entertained generations of Nigerians while helping to promote Yoruba culture and Nigeria’s broader cultural heritage.

“Alhaji Taiwo Hassan was a gifted artist who used his talent to tell Nigerian stories, preserve our cultural heritage and entertain audiences at home and abroad. His passing is a great loss to his family, the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood, and the entire Nigerian creative community,” Tinubu said.

Enduring legacy

Tinubu said Ogogo’s impact extended beyond his performances, noting that his mentorship and influence on younger artistes formed an important part of his contribution to the industry.

The president said the actor’s body of work had earned him an enduring place in Nigeria’s cultural history.

He urged members of the creative industry and other Nigerians to honour the late actor by preserving and building on the cultural values and artistic traditions to which he devoted his life.

“On behalf of the Federal Government, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, friends, and millions of admirers,” Tinubu said.

“I pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

From mechanic to screen star

Born on 31 October 1959 in Ilaro, Ogun State, Ogogo took an unconventional route into the entertainment industry.

Before becoming a full-time actor, he trained as an automobile mechanic and worked for a water corporation for about 13 years. He began acting in 1981 while still working as a mechanic, juggling both professions for years before leaving his job in 1994 to concentrate on acting.

His career subsequently spanned more than four decades, during which he became one of the recognisable faces of the Yoruba-language cinema. His rise to prominence included his appearance in Tade Ogidan’s Owo Blow, the acclaimed 1990s film trilogy.

Ogogo remained active across different eras of Nigerian cinema, appearing in productions including Omo Ghetto, Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo, and its Netflix series Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre. His portrayal of the Alaafin in Anikulapo earned him a 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

His death followed a difficult final period during which his family disclosed that his cancer had reached stage four and publicly sought further medical options for him.

The family stressed at the time that its appeal was not for financial donations, but for access to specialists who might be able to offer further treatment.

The President stated that Ogogo’s work and influence would remain a part of Nigeria’s cultural history and prayed for the repose of his soul.