By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
ILARO — Tears and grief enveloped Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday as family members, friends, colleagues and fans gathered to bid a final farewell to veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
The 66-year-old Yoruba film icon was buried in his hometown in accordance with Islamic rites, a day after his death was confirmed.
Mourners conveyed his remains to the burial ground, where Islamic prayers were offered before his interment.
Among those who attended the funeral were veteran actors Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Faithia Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Mr Latin, Ireti Osayemi, Toyosi Adesanya and Bisi Omo Logbalogba, alongside members of the deceased’s family, residents and other sympathisers.
Ogogo’s close friend and colleague, Yinka Quadri, was visibly emotional and broke down in tears as mourners consoled him.
Also paying tribute to the deceased, actor Bola Oyin-Adejobi prayed for Ogogo to attain Al-Jannah Firdaus.
“May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and give the family the strength to bear the loss,” Oyin-Adejobi said.
The burial followed Ogogo’s death at about 3pm on Sunday at the age of 66.
Veteran actor Jide Kosoko had earlier announced his death on Instagram, stating that the actor’s remains would be taken to Ilaro for a lying-in-state and final burial.
Ogogo’s death came days after his daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, appealed for medical assistance for their father, who had been battling stage-four cancer.
Kaira had disclosed that doctors treating the actor informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer continue because of his deteriorating condition.
The family subsequently explored alternative treatment options in a desperate effort to save the veteran actor.
Ogogo was a major figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly Yoruba-language cinema, with a career spanning several decades.
Through his distinctive acting style and appearances in numerous Yoruba films, he established himself as one of the respected veterans of Nollywood.
His death has since triggered an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, fans and stakeholders across Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Representing the Ogun State Government at the funeral, Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasiu Isiaka, described Ogogo as an icon, family man and a personality whose life touched many people.
Isiaka said he attended the funeral on behalf of Governor Dapo Abiodun, who could not make it because of a previously scheduled official engagement.
“I am here today with a heavy heart to represent the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dr Dapo Abiodun, who would have loved to be here. However, because of another very important assignment that had been scheduled before this occasion, he asked me to come and represent him,” he said.
The commissioner said the government and people of Ogun State were mourning not merely an actor but an icon and family man.
“I am here this morning to join the family, friends, and indeed the whole of Nigeria in mourning, not just a person, but an icon, a true icon, a family man, and somebody whom, whenever you saw him, you felt, ‘Oh, this person could be my brother.’”
Isiaka urged Ogogo’s children and other members of the family to take solace in the life their father lived and trust in God.
“Nothing can happen without the knowledge of Allah. It has happened, though sadly and with great sorrow, but what else can we do? We cannot question God.
“Because of that, take solace in the fact that he lived a very good life.”
The commissioner also thanked Ogogo’s colleagues in the entertainment industry and other sympathisers for turning out to honour the deceased.
“On behalf of the state government, the good people of the state, and all of us, we thank everybody here, especially his colleagues in the industry and everyone who has come to honour him,” Isiaka said.
He added that Governor Abiodun had directed him to convey the state government’s condolences to the deceased’s children and the entire family.
“The Governor sent me to extend his condolences to the children and the entire family,” he said.
On his part, the President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, described Ogogo as a complete gentleman and a man of impeccable character.
“He was a complete gentleman, a man of impeccable character. He was a man of the people. Everybody knew him, even people who were unknown to us,” Amusan said.
He urged the late actor’s children to preserve the values and legacy their father left behind.
“Ogogo is dead, but his legacy should be kept alive,” he said.
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