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Veteran actor Yinka Quadri has recalled his emotional final meeting with longtime friend and colleague Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
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Quadri said he broke down in tears during his last hospital visit, but the ailing actor tried to reassure him.
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The two actors had known each other since 1984, with Quadri describing their bond as that of brothers and “twins from heaven.”
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Quadri said Ogogo’s death left a deep void and vowed to cherish the memories they shared.
August 26, (THEWILL) — Veteran Nollywood actor, Yinka Quadri, has shared the emotional details of his final meeting with his longtime friend and colleague, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
In a tribute shared on his social media page on Wednesday following Ogogo’s death, Quadri recalled visiting the actor in hospital and struggling to hold back his tears after seeing him on his sickbed.
According to Quadri, Ogogo noticed his tears and tried to reassure him despite his own condition.
“Yinka, don’t cry. Nothing bad will happen to me”, Ogogo told him.
Quadri said he replied, “Yes, Amen”, holding on to hope that his friend would recover.
He also recalled that Ogogo later asked for a bottle of water, drank from it and told the doctors that he had eaten that morning. Quadri said the moment strengthened his hope and faith.
“I will never forget the last time I saw you at the hospital. You were lying on your sick bed, and when I saw you, I could not hold back my tears.
“Deep down, I know this was not your wish to leave us so soon”, Quadri wrote.
Quadri and Ogogo’s friendship dated back to 1984 and lasted for more than four decades. He said their relationship grew beyond their work in the film industry and survived rumours and disagreements over the years.
“Many people tried to create a distance between us, but God never allowed it. Neither of us ever went to the public to speak against the other”, he said.
Quadri said that even when people assumed the two actors were at odds, they never allowed the rumours to define their relationship. He recalled how they would still sit together, laugh and chat at public events despite reports of a rift.
Describing Ogogo as a brother and confidant, Quadri said he had always considered them “twins from heaven, only born to different mothers.”
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Ogogo died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66 after battling stage-four cancer. He was buried in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, August 24, according to Islamic rites.
Quadri was among the colleagues who attended the funeral and became emotional as mourners gathered to pay their final respects to the veteran actor.
Quadri also expressed gratitude that Ogogo did not have to endure a prolonged illness that would have left his family and colleagues constantly seeking financial assistance for his care.
“I thank God for the beautiful life you lived, my bosom friend, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo. I thank God that you did not have to go through a prolonged struggle that would have left us constantly seeking financial assistance to care for you. I thank God that your illness did not keep us moving you from one place to another in search of help,” he said.
Quadri ended his tribute by reflecting on the memories they shared over the years.
“Your departure has left a space that words cannot fill, but I will forever cherish the memories we shared, the laughter, the journeys, the movie locations, the disagreements we overcame and the countless moments that made our friendship special.
“You may have left this world, but you will never leave my heart. Rest peacefully, my beloved friend. Rest well, my brother. Until we meet again, may your soul rest in perfect peace.”
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
