Tinubu Mourns Veteran Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned veteran Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing his death as a great loss to Nigeria’s creative industry.

In a condolence message issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President extended his sympathies to Hassan’s family, friends, colleagues and millions of admirers.

Tinubu described Ogogo as a distinguished artiste whose career spanned several decades and contributed significantly to the growth of Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema.

He said the actor’s distinctive acting style, powerful screen presence and dedication to his craft entertained generations of Nigerians while promoting Yoruba culture and Nigeria’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,” Tinubu said.

“His passing is a great loss to his family, the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood and the entire Nigerian creative community.”

The President 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 underscored his enduring legacy.

“His mentorship and influence on younger artistes further underscored his enduring legacy in the creative industry,” Tinubu said.

He urged members of the creative industry and Nigerians to honour the late actor by preserving and building on the cultural values and artistic traditions to which he devoted his life.

“On behalf of the Federal Government, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, friends and millions of admirers. I pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” the President said.

Before gaining fame as an actor, 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 before leaving the profession in 1994 to pursue acting full-time.