Obasa mourns Taiwo Hassan at 66, honouring the Nollywood legend for preserving Yoruba culture and inspiring generations through storytelling

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of veteran Nollywood actor and cultural icon Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, in Lagos on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

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Taiwo Hassan died at the age of 66 following a battle with stage-four cancer, according to his family. His daughter, Kira Taiwo, announced his death on social media, prompting an outpouring of grief across Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

The veteran actor was buried according to Islamic rites in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, August 24.

In a statement issued through his media office, Obasa described Hassan as a towering presence in Nollywood whose career extended beyond entertainment to the preservation of Yoruba culture and values.

The Speaker said the actor’s artistry was marked by “discipline, moral strength, and cultural pride”.

According to Obasa, Hassan’s performances “inspired generations and helped preserve Yoruba heritage through storytelling that resonated across Nigeria and beyond.”

The tribute reflects the veteran actor’s enduring place within Yoruba-language cinema. Over several decades, Hassan became one of the industry’s recognisable faces, earning admiration for his versatility, commanding screen presence and commitment to indigenous storytelling.

Obasa said the loss would be felt far beyond Hassan’s immediate family.

“His death is not only a loss to his family and admirers but to the entire creative industry and the Nigerian nation,” the Speaker said.

Obasa also praised Hassan’s character away from the screen, describing his humility, professionalism and dedication to his craft as qualities that helped make him a role model.

The Speaker further extended his condolences to the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), led by actor Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin.

According to Obasa, TAMPAN had lost “a revered elder and mentor” whose absence would be deeply felt throughout Nigeria’s theatre and film community.

Hassan’s death has brought together colleagues from different generations of the entertainment industry, many of whom have reflected on his contribution to Yoruba cinema and the mentorship he provided to younger practitioners.

His burial in Ilaro also marked a solemn homecoming for an actor whose professional identity remained closely connected to Yoruba culture and storytelling.

For Obasa, Hassan’s passing represents more than the loss of a prominent actor. The Speaker described him as a cultural custodian whose work helped preserve Yoruba heritage and bring indigenous Nigerian stories to audiences at home and abroad.

On behalf of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Obasa extended his condolences to Hassan’s family, colleagues, friends and admirers.

He prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the late actor eternal rest and give comfort to all those mourning his death.

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Taiwo Hassan’s passing leaves behind a powerful body of work and a cultural legacy that will continue to shape conversations about the place of indigenous storytelling in Nigerian cinema.