Emotions ran high in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday as family members, friends, colleagues and admirers gathered to bid a final farewell to veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
The 66-year-old actor was laid to rest in his hometown on August 24, 2026, a day after his death. The burial was conducted in accordance with Islamic rites.
Hassan died on Sunday, August 23, at the age of 66. His death came after his family had disclosed that he was battling stage-four cancer and appealed for medical assistance in the final days of his life.
The atmosphere in Ilaro was marked by grief as mourners gathered for the funeral prayers and burial of the actor, who had remained one of the prominent figures in Yoruba-language cinema for more than four decades.
Among those who attended the funeral were several of his colleagues from the Nigerian film industry. Veteran actors Jide Kosoko and Yinka Quadri were among the Nollywood personalities who arrived in Ilaro to pay their final respects.
Other notable actors, including Mister Latin, Dele Odule, Olaiya Igwe, Fathia Balogun and Kolawole Ajeyemi, also travelled to Ilaro for the burial rites.
Reports from the burial said Ogogo’s remains were taken to the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground, where funeral prayers were held before the body was taken to the burial ground.
The emotional gathering reflected the impact Hassan had on colleagues and audiences throughout his career. Born in Ilaro, he became a prominent actor, producer and filmmaker in the Yoruba film industry and was widely recognised for his distinctive performances and contribution to the growth of Yoruba cinema.
His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, government officials and fans, with many describing him as a major figure whose work helped promote Yoruba culture and Nigeria’s creative industry. The Ogun State Government also described his death as a significant loss to the state and the country’s entertainment industry.
For the people of Ilaro, Monday’s funeral was both a farewell to a celebrated son of the town and a moment to honour a career that left a lasting mark on Nigerian cinema.
As mourners returned home after the burial, tributes continued to pour in for Ogogo, whose legacy in Yoruba theatre and film is expected to endure through the generations.
