Veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, will be buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, today. Hassan died at 3p.m. yesterday at the age of 66, according to a burial announcement by veteran actor, Jide Kosoko.

Kosoko said the actor’s remains would be taken to Ilaro on Sunday, where a lying-in-state ceremony would be held on Monday.

The actor’s death came days after his family disclosed that he was battling stage-four cancer and appealed for medical assistance.

The family said the deceased would be buried according to Islamic rites on Monday.

It stated that the burial would take place at the Pavilion, Ilaro, Ogun.

The Ogun State Government has expressed deep sadness over the death of veteran actor and filmmaker, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, describing his passing as a monumental loss to the state, Nigeria’s creative industry and the nation.

In a statement made available to journalists, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said Hassan’s death had robbed the country of one of its most distinguished cultural ambassadors.

Akinmade described the late actor as more than an accomplished actor, noting that his remarkable talent, discipline and commitment to his craft contributed significantly to the growth of Nigeria’s entertainment industry and the projection of Yoruba culture to audiences across the world.

According to him, throughout his illustrious career, Hassan distinguished himself through exceptional artistry, humility, candour, dignity and respect for others, qualities that earned him the admiration of colleagues, fans and generations of Nigerians.

“As an Ilaro-born son of Ogun State, Ogogo remained a proud ambassador of his roots.

Through his work in theatre, film and television, he contributed immensely to the preservation, promotion and propagation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, particularly the Yoruba language, traditions and values,” he said.

The government said the actor’s death had created a painful void that would be deeply felt by his family, the people of Ilaro and Ogun State, members of the Nigerian artistic community and his numerous admirers at home and abroad.