By Prosper Mene
Veteran Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri has paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and colleague, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66.
In a tribute shared on social media, Quadri described the late actor as more than a colleague, calling him “my brother, my confidant, and my companion.” The two actors shared over 40 years of friendship that began in 1984.
“Taiwo Hassan, I will never forget the last time I saw you at the hospital. You were lying on your sick bed, and when I saw you, I could not hold back my tears. You looked at me and said, ‘Yinka, don’t cry. Nothing bad will happen to me.’ I responded, ‘Yes, Amen,’” Quadri recalled.
He said a small moment during that visit gave him hope. Ogogo drank a bottle of water and asked the doctors to confirm that he had eaten earlier that morning.
Quadri also addressed long-standing rumours of a rift between them, saying their bond was never affected by public speculation.
“Neither of us ever went to the public to speak against the other. Whenever people heard rumours that we were fighting, they were only guessing. They never heard it from us… We have known each other since 1984, and with time, our friendship grew into something beyond ordinary friendship,” he wrote.
The veteran actor said people often expected to see tension whenever they appeared at the same event, but instead found them “sitting together, laughing and catching up as we always had.”
“You were more than a friend to me. You were my brother, my confidant, and my companion… You may have left this world, but you will never leave my heart,” Quadri added. He prayed for God’s forgiveness for Ogogo and strength for his family.
Ogogo died at 66 after a career spanning four decades. He was celebrated for his commanding screen presence and contributions to Yoruba-language cinema.
Fans will remember him for classics such as Owo Blow, Agbelebu, and Okan Soso, as well as modern hits including Omo Ghetto, Aníkúlápó, and the 2024 drama series Seven Doors.
Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues, fans, and industry stakeholders who described Ogogo as one of the pillars of the Yoruba film industry.
May his soul rest in peace.
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