Colleagues and Fans Rally to Support Veteran Actor Ogogo's Health

For over forty years, actor Taiwo Hassan, known as Ogogo, has been a well-known figure in Nigerian movies. He has played many characters that made him a household name in the film industry.

But now, the 66-year-old actor is facing a serious health issue. His family, friends, colleagues, and fans are coming together to support him as he battles stage-four cancer.

This situation has sparked a lot of concern. Medical professionals, cancer experts, Nollywood colleagues, traditional healers, fans, and other Nigerians are all offering help.

The news about Ogogo's health crisis became public when his daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, made heartfelt pleas for assistance. They said their father needed urgent medical attention.

In videos that spread quickly online, the sisters revealed that Ogogo was dealing with stage-four cancer. They asked for help in finding medical experts or facilities that could review his case and provide more treatment options.

Lima claimed that some hospitals had refused to continue treating their father. Kira added that doctors had told the family chemotherapy was no longer an option at their current hospital.

The sisters emphasized that they turned to social media mainly to find medical help, not to ask for money.

Their calls for help led to an immediate response from Nigerians and people in the entertainment industry. Popular actor Femi Adebayo posted on his X page on Monday, asking the public to assist the family in finding medical professionals who could look at Hassan's medical records and suggest treatment options.

He wrote, "Please let’s rally around our beloved Sir Taiwo Hassan, who is currently facing a serious health challenge battling cancer."

Toyin Abraham also joined the effort to gather support for the veteran actor. She shared a video of Hassan’s daughters on her Instagram page, urging anyone who could help to reach out to the sisters or her.

“Pls kindly send dm to @kira_taiwo @limataiwo_ or me pls. Anyhow, anyone can help ejoor,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, veteran actor Jide Kosoko, who is helping Ogogo's family, said they had received offers from over 300 people who genuinely believed they could assist the actor.

He mentioned that the offers included both medical and spiritual help. However, Kosoko noted that some people offering spiritual assistance wanted the family to bring Ogogo to them. He said this was tough due to the actor’s condition and the need for hospital care.

Kosoko explained that the real challenge is not the willingness of Nigerians to help, but figuring out how to coordinate the offers without putting Ogogo at risk by moving him around.

He said, "The challenge is simply: Where do we take him to? And how do we move him from the hospital while he is receiving care? Please, do not feel offended or disappointed if we are unable to bring Ogogo to you for spiritual assistance or treatment."

Kosoko clarified that Ogogo is still in the hospital. Moving him around for different treatments or spiritual help would be very difficult at this point.

He urged supporters to keep praying for Ogogo and to support his family from wherever they are. He also asked those who reached out not to take it personally if the family couldn’t bring Ogogo to them.

Kosoko said the family truly appreciates the concern shown by Nigerians and people worldwide.

A video circulated online on Friday, showing several notable actors, including Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun (Madam Saje), Yinka Quadri, Rotimi Salami, Mr Latin, Adewale Elesho, and Antar Laniyan. They gathered to pray for Allah’s mercy, divine help, strength, and complete recovery for Ogogo.

This prayer session highlighted the strong support and love for the actor within Nollywood.

The Ogun State 2027 All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Solomon Adeola, also stepped in to help Ogogo. After his intervention, the actor was admitted for immediate treatment.

Despite the many offers, there are broader questions about the various medical, traditional, and spiritual options suggested to the family. Some Nigerians have asked if the potentially helpful treatments could be documented and shared with others facing similar health issues.

Others wonder if the information sent to Ogogo’s family could be shared more widely with families dealing with serious illnesses.

A doctor and content creator, Olusina Ajidahun, warned against interpreting the family's claim that hospitals were refusing to treat Ogogo as meaning that medical professionals had abandoned him. He explained that patients with advanced cancer often move into palliative care when chemotherapy and other treatments are no longer suitable.

Palliative care focuses on easing pain, symptoms, and stress, aiming to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.