Ogun State APC governorship candidate and Senator representing Ogun West, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, and veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Babatunde Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, were at the centre of a deeply emotional medical struggle in Ogun State before Hassan died at 3pm on Sunday, August 23, 2026, aged 66.
Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, said on Monday that he and his wife, Temitope Adeola, supported Hassan and his family during the actor’s illness and did everything within their means to secure the medical care required to keep the veteran performer alive.
Also read: As Ogogo goes home today, Yoruba Nollywood must prioritize how it treats its sick and dead
In a tribute issued after Hassan’s death, Adeola said the outcome was particularly painful because of the actor’s courageous battle and the hope that had surrounded his treatment.
“During those difficult moments, we stood closely with him and his family, supporting his treatment and doing everything humanly possible to ensure that he received the necessary medical care,” Adeola said.
The senator added that he and his family had remained hopeful and prayerful for Hassan’s recovery.
“We remained hopeful and prayerful that he would overcome the illness and return to the family, friends and countless admirers who cherished him. Sadly, despite all efforts, it has pleased Almighty God to call him home. Indeed, God knows best,” he said.
Hassan’s death came less than a week after his daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, publicly appealed for urgent medical assistance as the actor battled stage-four cancer.
The family’s appeal on August 17 and 18 triggered an outpouring of concern across Nigeria’s entertainment community.
The daughters stressed that they were seeking medical intervention and expertise rather than simply asking the public for money.
The family also disclosed that doctors had indicated that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of the advanced state of Hassan’s illness.
The development prompted calls for alternative medical opinions and further specialist intervention.
However, the circumstances surrounding advanced cancer treatment also attracted medical clarification. Dr Olusina Ajidahun explained that moving a patient from chemotherapy to palliative care can be medically appropriate when further disease-directed treatment is no longer considered beneficial, cautioning against interpreting such a decision simply as hospitals abandoning a patient.
Amid the uncertainty, several people attempted to help. Veteran actor Jide Kosoko said more than 500 people had reportedly offered possible assistance, leaving Hassan’s family with the difficult task of determining which options were medically credible and appropriate.
Adeola was among those who became involved directly. Reports during Hassan’s illness said the senator reached out to cancer specialists and helped facilitate medical assistance for the actor. Hassan’s daughters also acknowledged his support during the difficult period.
For Adeola, the death was therefore not simply the loss of a prominent entertainer but the passing of someone he regarded as a close associate and brother.
In his condolence message, Adeola described Hassan as “a dear brother” and a proud son of Ilaro and Ogun West.
He said the actor’s career had brought joy to generations and had contributed significantly to the development of Nigeria’s film industry.
Hassan was one of the enduring figures of Yoruba-language cinema. His acting career spanned more than four decades, beginning in the early 1980s, and he became widely recognised for his work across Yoruba and Nigerian film.
His career included the influential film Owo Blow and numerous other productions that helped establish his place among the industry’s veteran performers.
His final days were marked by a rapidly deteriorating health condition and a remarkable public mobilisation around his treatment.
A false report of his death had circulated earlier in August, forcing his family to publicly dismiss the claim before Hassan eventually died on Sunday.
Hassan’s death was subsequently confirmed by fellow veteran actor Jide Kosoko, who announced that the actor died at 3pm on August 23 at the age of 66.
His remains were taken to Ilaro, Ogun State, on Sunday ahead of his burial under Islamic rites.
A lying-in-state ceremony was scheduled for 11am on Monday, August 24, at the Pavilion in Ilaro, with the burial arrangements drawing family members, colleagues, friends and admirers back to his hometown.
The Ogun State Government also expressed sadness over Hassan’s death, describing the passing of the veteran actor and filmmaker as a major loss to the state and Nigeria’s creative sector.
For Yayi, the final chapter is one of grief but also of reassurance that efforts were made.
Adeola said Hassan’s talent, humility and body of work would preserve his memory, while assuring the bereaved family of continued support.
Hassan leaves behind a legacy shaped by more than four decades in Nigerian entertainment, a generation of viewers who grew up with his performances and a Yoruba film tradition to which he made a lasting contribution.
Also read: As Ogogo goes home today, Yoruba Nollywood must prioritize how it treats its sick and dead
His death has brought a poignant close to a career that helped carry Yoruba cinema from its earlier foundations into contemporary Nollywood.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
