The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has paid tribute to veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as ‘Ogogo’, describing him as a custodian of Nigerian culture and a proud voice of Yoruba storytelling.
Musawa expressed her grief in a statement issued in the early hours of Monday by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Nneka Anibeze, following the death of the veteran actor.
Ogogo, a prominent figure in the Yoruba film industry, died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, following a battle with stage-four cancer.
His death was announced after his health reportedly deteriorated in recent weeks.
In the days preceding his death, the actor’s family disclosed that he was battling advanced cancer and appealed for medical assistance as they sought further treatment options.
Reports indicated that his daughters had sought medical help for their father, with the family revealing that doctors had informed them that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of the advanced stage of his condition.
Ogogo was born in Ilaro, Ogun State, and became one of the recognisable faces of Yoruba-language cinema.