Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has mourned veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing him as a major custodian of Nigerian culture and Yoruba storytelling.

Hassan died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, aged 66, after battling stage-four cancer. His family had disclosed in recent weeks that his condition had deteriorated and appealed for financial assistance for further medical treatment.

In a statement issued early Monday by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Nneka Anibeze, Musawa described Hassan as a towering figure whose talent and dedication helped shape Nigeria’s creative industry.

“Ogogo was not just a star on our screens. He was a custodian of our culture, a proud voice of Yoruba storytelling, and a man who dedicated his life to building the Nigerian creative industry,” Musawa said.

She said his influence extended beyond entertainment, noting that his films helped bring Yoruba culture and traditions to audiences across Nigeria and internationally.

Born in Ilaro, Ogun State, Hassan built a career spanning several decades as an actor, producer, filmmaker and screenwriter. He was recognised for his roles in Yoruba-language productions, including Eegun Mogaji and Igbekun, and became one of the prominent figures in the evolution of Yoruba cinema.

Musawa said Hassan’s work celebrated Nigeria’s heritage and projected its cultural richness to the world.

The industry has lost a giant, but his legacy will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and the films he left behind,” she said.

The minister extended her condolences to Hassan’s family, colleagues, fans and the people of Ogun State, saying his contribution to Nigerian cinema would remain part of the country’s cultural legacy.