President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of veteran Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, following his death.
The condolence message was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu described Ogogo as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career contributed significantly to the development of Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.
The President said the late actor’s distinctive acting style, commanding screen presence and dedication to his craft enabled him to entertain generations of Nigerians while promoting Yoruba culture and Nigeria’s broader cultural heritage.
According to Tinubu, Ogogo’s extensive body of work will remain an important part of Nigeria’s cultural history.
He also noted that the actor’s mentorship and influence on younger artistes further demonstrated the lasting impact he had on 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 major loss to his family, the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood and Nigeria’s wider creative community.
He extended the Federal Government’s condolences to the actor’s family, colleagues, friends and millions of admirers, while praying to Almighty Allah to grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
Tinubu 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 dedicated his life.
Before achieving fame in the entertainment industry, Ogogo worked as a mechanic at the Ogun State Water Corporation for about 13 years.
He began his acting career in 1981 while combining it with his mechanic job. He eventually left the job in 1994 to pursue acting full-time, marking the beginning of a career that would span several decades in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
