Long before the fame, the applause and the recognition that came with becoming one of Nigeria’s celebrated actors, Taiwo Babatunde Al-Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, endured a painful battle that began in the early years of his life.


The veteran actor once recounted how sickness consumed seven years of his young life, subjecting him to unimaginable hardship and suffering.


For seven years, the young Taiwo lived with illness, uncertainty and pain. At one point, his condition became so severe that he could barely move and had to remain seated for months. He struggled even with food and, according to his account, could only survive on pap.


For a young boy whose dreams were yet to unfold, those years must have seemed endless. While other children were growing, playing and dreaming about their futures, Taiwo was fighting a battle simply to stay alive.


His family story was equally heartbreaking. His mother reportedly gave birth to 13 children, but only three survived before she eventually passed away. The young Taiwo therefore grew up surrounded by loss, pain and circumstances that could easily have broken the strongest of hearts.


But somehow, he survived.


The boy who once battled to stay alive would later become a household name, an accomplished actor and one of the respected faces of Yoruba cinema. His journey from the painful days of illness to the heights of success became a testimony to resilience, courage and the determination to keep moving despite life's darkest moments.


Sadly, after surviving one of the greatest battles of his early life, Ogogo would face another devastating health challenge in his final days.


His family recently revealed that the veteran actor was battling Stage 4 cancer, prompting emotional appeals for medical assistance as his condition deteriorated.


But on Sunday, August 23, 2026, the painful journey finally came to an end.


Taiwo Babatunde Al-Hassan, Ogogo, passed away at the age of 66 after battling the devastating illness. His death marks the end of a remarkable life that began with suffering but blossomed into a legacy that touched generations through Nigerian theatre and film.


From a young boy who once fought for his life for seven years to a man whose name became synonymous with Yoruba cinema, Ogogo's story will remain one of pain, survival, perseverance, greatness and ultimately, a life that left an indelible mark.


May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and give his family, colleagues, friends and millions of admirers the strength to bear this painful loss. Ameen.