President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of veteran Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing his passing as a great loss to Nigeria’s creative industry and cultural heritage.
Tinubu expressed his condolences in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following the actor’s death at the age of 66.
The President described Hassan as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career contributed significantly to the growth of Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.
According to Tinubu, Ogogo’s distinctive acting style, powerful screen presence and dedication to his craft enabled him to entertain generations of Nigerians while promoting Yoruba culture and the country’s diverse cultural heritage.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu said Ogogo’s body of work would remain an important part of Nigeria’s cultural history, while his mentorship and influence on younger artistes further demonstrated his enduring legacy in the creative sector.
The President extended his condolences to Hassan’s family, colleagues, friends and millions of admirers, praying for the peaceful repose of the late actor’s soul.
He also urged members of the creative industry and Nigerians to honour Ogogo’s memory by preserving and building on the cultural values and artistic traditions to which he devoted his life.
Hassan died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66. His death was announced by fellow veteran actor Jide Kosoko.
The veteran actor was subsequently buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday in accordance with Islamic rites. Family members, colleagues, community leaders and other sympathisers gathered to pay their final respects.
Tributes have continued to pour in from government officials and entertainment industry figures, with many highlighting Hassan’s contribution to Yoruba theatre, Nigerian cinema and the preservation of cultural identity.
His death marks the loss of one of the established figures of Nigeria’s Yoruba-language film tradition and a performer whose career spanned several decades.
