By Naheem Olaoye
Tears flowed freely in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday as the remains of veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, were laid to rest.
An emotional atmosphere enveloped the venue as family members, friends, colleagues and sympathisers gathered to bid farewell to the 66-year-old actor.
A video from the funeral procession showed mourners carrying Ogogo’s remains to his final resting place in accordance with Islamic rites.
Among those present was his close friend and colleague, Yinka Quadri, who was visibly overcome with emotion and was seen crying uncontrollably as mourners tried to console him.
Nollywood stars, including Jide Kosoko, Faithia Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Mr Latin and Toyosi Adesanya, had earlier arrived in Ilaro for the burial.
Also present were Ireti Osayemi, Bisi Omo Logbalogba and several other colleagues, family members and well-wishers who gathered to honour the late actor.
Actor Bola Oyin-Adejobi also paid tribute to Ogogo during an interview with journalists ahead of the burial, praying for the deceased to attain Al-Jannah Firdaus.
The burial rites came a day after Ogogo’s remains were transported to Ilaro, his hometown, following his death on Sunday.
Ogogo died at about 3pm on Sunday at the age of 66, according to an announcement by veteran actor Jide Kosoko on Instagram.
Kosoko had disclosed that the actor’s remains would be taken to Ilaro, where a lying-in-state ceremony would be held before his burial.
The Ilaro Muslim Community also announced prayers for the late actor.
Ogogo’s death came days after his daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, appealed for financial and medical assistance for their father, who had been battling stage-four cancer.
Kaira had disclosed that doctors told the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of his condition, prompting them to explore alternative treatment options.
Ogogo was one of the prominent figures in the Nigerian film industry, particularly in Yoruba-language cinema.
His career spanned more than four decades, during which he featured in hundreds of films and established himself as one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba Nollywood.
