Ogogo: Family announces dates for remaining burial programmes

The family of the late Nollywood veteran Alhaji Babatunde Taiwo Hassan, widely known as Ogogo, has officially announced the remaining programmes to conclude his burial rites, including an 8th-day Fidau prayer and a 40-day Artists’ Tribute.

This followed his passing on August 23, 2026, after a battle with stage-four cancer.

The iconic Yoruba cinema actor was laid to rest on August 24 in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, according to Islamic rites.

Several colleagues, friends and associates from the entertainment industry attended his burial, including Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Femi Adebayo, among others.

In a statement on Wednesday, veteran actor Jide Kosoko, who announced the plans on behalf of the family, stated that the 8th-day Fidau Prayer would be held on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Ilaro, Ogun State.

The second highlighted programme to honour the deceased is an Artists’ Day, which will be held 40 days after Ogogo’s burial at the Pavilion Hall, Ilaro.

Kosoko noted that the Artists’ Day is a “tradition and a fitting tribute from members of the entertainment industry” to honour the deceased.

The post was titled ‘Message of appreciation and announcement of the remaining burial programmes for Alhaji Babatunde Taiwo Hassan, aka Ogogo.’

It read partly, “On behalf of the family of our late colleague, Alhaji Babatunde Taiwo HASSAN, a.k.a. Ogogo, I have the mandate of the family to express our profound appreciation to everyone who turned out en masse for his burial on Monday, 24th August 2026.

“The family also wishes to inform everyone of the remaining programmes to complete the burial rites of our beloved Alhaji Babatunde Taiwo HASSAN, a.k.a. Ogogo.

“The 8th-day Fidau Prayer will take place on Monday, 31st August 2026, at Ilaro.

“The family humbly appeals to all friends, colleagues, fans, and well-wishers to continue to rally around the family during this difficult period.

“We want you to come en masse to Ilaro so that together, we can offer our prayers for the peaceful repose of our beloved colleague and ask Almighty Allah to grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus.

“As part of the final activities to honour our late colleague, an Artists’ Day will be held 40 days after his burial at the Pavilion Hall, Ilaro.

“This will be a special day of performances and entertainment featuring actors, musicians, comedians, singers, and other entertainers, who will come together to celebrate the life and legacy of Alhaji Babatunde Taiwo HASSAN, a.k.a. Ogogo.

“The programme will be coordinated by TAMPAN — Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria.”

Kosoko thanked well-wishers for their support and presence at the burial, describing it as a “great demonstration of the love and respect you had for Ogogo while he was alive. We sincerely appreciate every one of you.”

The actor’s death prompted tributes from colleagues and fans, with many recalling his contribution to the growth of Yoruba-language cinema.

Ogogo began his acting career in the early 1980s and became one of the prominent figures in Yoruba Nollywood, working as an actor, producer and filmmaker.