President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and admirers of veteran Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, following his death.

The President described the late actor as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career made significant contributions to the development of Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema. Blueprint reports

In a condolence message issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said Hassan used his talent, distinctive acting style and powerful screen presence to entertain generations of Nigerians while promoting Yoruba culture and the country’s diverse cultural heritage.

The President said Ogogo’s death was a significant loss not only to his immediate family but also to the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood and the wider Nigerian creative community.

Tinubu celebrates Ogogo’s contribution to Nigerian cinema

According to the President, the veteran actor’s body of work would remain an important part of Nigeria’s cultural history, particularly because of his contribution to the preservation and promotion of indigenous storytelling.

He noted that Ogogo’s career demonstrated the important role of the creative industry in preserving cultural identity and transmitting values from one generation to another.

“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.

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

“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.

President Tinubu also commended the late actor’s influence on younger artistes, describing his mentorship and contribution to the growth of the industry as part of the legacy he left behind.

From mechanic to celebrated actor

Ogogo’s journey to prominence in the Nigerian entertainment industry was not an overnight success.

Before attaining fame as one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba-language movies, Hassan worked as a mechanic at the Ogun State Water Corporation for about 13 years.

He began his acting career in 1981 while still combining the profession with his work as a mechanic.

For several years, he maintained the balance between his employment and his growing passion for acting, gradually establishing himself within the Yoruba theatre and film circles.

By 1994, Hassan had made the decision to leave his mechanic job and devote himself fully to acting.

That transition marked a defining point in a career that would eventually span several decades and earn him widespread recognition across Nigeria and beyond.

His experience as a stage and screen performer helped him develop a distinctive style that endeared him to audiences, particularly within the Yoruba film industry.

Legacy in Yoruba cultural expression

Throughout his career, Ogogo became associated with the preservation of Yoruba language, traditions and cultural values through film and theatre.

His performances helped bring indigenous stories to wider audiences at a time when the Nigerian film industry was expanding rapidly and Yoruba-language productions were gaining greater visibility.

President Tinubu said the late actor’s commitment to his craft should serve as an inspiration to practitioners within the creative industry.

He urged members of the creative community and Nigerians at large to honour Ogogo’s memory by preserving and building on the cultural values and artistic traditions to which he devoted his life.

The President said doing so would ensure that the veteran actor’s contribution would continue to influence future generations of Nigerian artistes.

President prays for peaceful repose

President Tinubu extended his condolences to Hassan’s family, colleagues, friends and the millions of Nigerians who admired his work during his long career.

He prayed for the peaceful repose of the late actor’s soul and asked Almighty Allah to grant his loved ones the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

Ogogo’s death has marked the end of a notable chapter in the history of Yoruba theatre and Nigerian cinema, with his career standing as an example of how indigenous storytelling can serve both as entertainment and as a vehicle for cultural preservation.

The statement was signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and dated August 24, 2026.