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President Bola Tinubu has mourned veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, following his death.
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The President described Ogogo as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career helped shape Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.
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Tinubu praised the late actor for promoting Yoruba culture and preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage through his work.
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He urged Nigerians and members of the creative industry to honour Ogogo’s memory by building on the cultural values he championed.
August 24, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has mourned veteran Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, following his death at the age of 66.
In a condolence message issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described Ogogo as a distinguished actor whose career spanned several decades and contributed significantly to the growth of Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.
The President praised Ogogo’s distinctive acting style, powerful screen presence and dedication to his craft, saying the actor entertained generations of Nigerians while promoting Yoruba culture and the country’s diverse heritage.
Tinubu said Ogogo’s body of work would remain an important part of Nigeria’s cultural history.
He also highlighted the late actor’s influence on younger artistes and his lasting contribution to the creative industry.
“Alhaji Taiwo Hassan was a gifted artiste who used his talent to tell Nigerian stories, preserve our cultural heritage and entertain audiences at home and abroad,” Tinubu said.
The President described Ogogo’s death as a great loss to his family, the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood and the wider Nigerian creative community.
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He extended his condolences to the actor’s family, friends, colleagues and millions of admirers, while praying that Almighty Allah would grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
Tinubu also urged Nigerians and members of the creative industry to honour Ogogo’s memory by preserving and building on the cultural values and artistic traditions to which he devoted his life.
Before becoming a household name, Ogogo worked as a mechanic at the Lagos State Water Corporation for about 13 years.
He began acting in 1981 and left his mechanic job in 1994 to pursue acting full-time.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Ogogo featured in numerous Yoruba and English-language productions, including “Eegun Mogaji,” “Igbekun,” “Owo Blow,” “Aníkúlápó” (2022) and “Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre” (2024).
Ogogo was laid to rest in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday in accordance with Islamic rites, as family, friends and colleagues gathered to pay their final respects.
His death has continued to attract tributes from across the Nigerian entertainment industry, with colleagues and fans remembering him for his decades-long contribution to Yoruba cinema.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
