His remains arrived in Ilaro, his hometown, late on Sunday, drawing mourners who gathered to honor the late actor and console members of his family, according to reports from the ceremony.
A special prayer session is currently taking place at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion in Ilaro ahead of the final burial, where his children, friends, and prominent actors from the Nigerian entertainment industry have gathered.
Veteran actors Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Femi Adebayo, Toyosi Adesanya, Ireti Osayemi, Sunny Alli, and Muyideen “Lala” Oladapo are among the several prominent figures present at the ceremony in Ilaro.
Ogogo died on Sunday after a prolonged battle with stage-four cancer. His death prompted an immediate outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans across the Nigerian film industry, known widely as Nollywood.
Ogogo began his acting career in 1981 while working as a mechanic. He balanced both occupations before eventually leaving his position at the water corporation in 1994 to pursue acting as a full-time career, a transition that marked the beginning of his most prolific period in Yoruba cinema.
Over the course of his career, Ogogo appeared in numerous films that cemented his status as a significant figure in Yoruba cinema. His body of work spanned decades and multiple productions across the Nigerian film industry, earning him recognition among peers and audiences alike.
His film credits include “Atitebi,” “Agbelebu,” “Agbo-Odaju,” “Danfo Driver,” “Owo Blow,” and “Amerah,” titles that established him as a familiar face to audiences across Yoruba-language cinema and the broader Nigerian entertainment market.
His later credits include “Aníkúlápó,” “Bank Alert,” “IGE,” and “Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre,” demonstrating that his career remained active in high-profile productions up to the period preceding his death on Sunday. His involvement in the acclaimed Aníkúlápó franchise in particular introduced him to a new generation of Nigerian film audiences.
The prayer session at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion brought together members of his immediate family alongside longtime colleagues who worked with him across his decades-long career in Yoruba and mainstream Nollywood productions.
Actor Jide Kosoko had announced Ogogo’s burial date before the ceremony commenced, giving colleagues and fans time to travel to Ilaro in Ogun State to attend the final rites for the veteran actor and screenwriter.
Femi Adebayo, one of the prominent actors in attendance, joined fellow industry figures at the Ilaro ceremony, reflecting the wide reach of Ogogo’s professional relationships built over more than four decades in Nigerian cinema and theater.
Yinka Quadri was also photographed at the burial ceremony, his presence alongside other veterans underlining the regard in which Ogogo was held by peers who shared the screen with him or worked alongside him through their respective careers.
Ogogo’s daughter and other family members were present at the ongoing ceremony in Ilaro. Reports from the event indicate that mourners continued to arrive as the prayer session and burial proceedings moved forward at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion in Ogun State.
The actor’s transition from mechanic to water corporation employee to full-time screen performer charted an unconventional path that eventually placed him among the recognized names of Yoruba-language Nigerian cinema over a career spanning more than four decades. His story resonated with many in the industry as an example of perseverance and late-blooming dedication to the craft.
The burial of Taiwo “Ogogo” Hassan in Ilaro, Ogun State, marks the final rites for a Nollywood veteran whose acting career launched in 1981 and continued through major productions until shortly before his death from stage-four cancer on Sunday.
