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Obasa Mourns Nollywood Legend Taiwo Hassan at 66

Published

2 months ago

August 24, 2026

Obasa mourns Taiwo Hassan at 66, honouring the Nollywood legend for preserving Yoruba culture and inspiring generations through storytelling

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of veteran Nollywood actor and cultural icon Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, in Lagos on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

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Taiwo Hassan died at the age of 66 following a battle with stage-four cancer, according to his family. His daughter, Kira Taiwo, announced his death on social media, prompting an outpouring of grief across Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

The veteran actor was buried according to Islamic rites in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday, August 24.

In a statement issued through his media office, Obasa described Hassan as a towering presence in Nollywood whose career extended beyond entertainment to the preservation of Yoruba culture and values.

The Speaker said the actor’s artistry was marked by “discipline, moral strength, and cultural pride”.

According to Obasa, Hassan’s performances “inspired generations and helped preserve Yoruba heritage through storytelling that resonated across Nigeria and beyond.”

The tribute reflects the veteran actor’s enduring place within Yoruba-language cinema. Over several decades, Hassan became one of the industry’s recognisable faces, earning admiration for his versatility, commanding screen presence and commitment to indigenous storytelling.

Obasa said the loss would be felt far beyond Hassan’s immediate family.

“His death is not only a loss to his family and admirers but to the entire creative industry and the Nigerian nation,” the Speaker said.

Obasa also praised Hassan’s character away from the screen, describing his humility, professionalism and dedication to his craft as qualities that helped make him a role model.

The Speaker further extended his condolences to the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), led by actor Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin.

According to Obasa, TAMPAN had lost “a revered elder and mentor” whose absence would be deeply felt throughout Nigeria’s theatre and film community.

Hassan’s death has brought together colleagues from different generations of the entertainment industry, many of whom have reflected on his contribution to Yoruba cinema and the mentorship he provided to younger practitioners.

His burial in Ilaro also marked a solemn homecoming for an actor whose professional identity remained closely connected to Yoruba culture and storytelling.

For Obasa, Hassan’s passing represents more than the loss of a prominent actor. The Speaker described him as a cultural custodian whose work helped preserve Yoruba heritage and bring indigenous Nigerian stories to audiences at home and abroad.

On behalf of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Obasa extended his condolences to Hassan’s family, colleagues, friends and admirers.

He prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the late actor eternal rest and give comfort to all those mourning his death.

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Taiwo Hassan’s passing leaves behind a powerful body of work and a cultural legacy that will continue to shape conversations about the place of indigenous storytelling in Nigerian cinema.

Health

Kenya Releases 20 Ebola Contacts After 21 Days in Quarantine

Published

5 hours ago

October 26, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Kenya Ebola contacts: 20 people have been released after 21 days in quarantine without symptoms as health authorities continue outbreak monitoring

Kenya has released 20 people linked to its first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease after they completed 21 days of quarantine without developing symptoms, as health authorities continue efforts to contain the outbreak.

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The World Health Organisation’s Regional Office for Africa announced the development on Monday, October 26, 2026, saying the individuals had undergone final health assessments and received counselling on precautions and follow-up care where necessary before reuniting with their families.

Kenya’s Director-General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth, urged communities to welcome the released individuals without stigma.

“We ask communities to welcome them home warmly,” Amoth said. “Having completed 21 days without symptoms, they pose no risk of infection to anyone.”

The WHO said 98 contacts remained in quarantine as of Monday, while eight contacts had developed symptoms and tested positive for Ebola through laboratory tests.

According to the organisation, all eight individuals were already in quarantine when they developed symptoms and were subsequently transferred to the country’s Ebola treatment centre in Nairobi.

Kenya has recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths since reporting its first imported case on October 6, 2026.

The WHO said all nine cases were linked to the same cluster, with no evidence of wider community transmission at the time of its update.

The organisation said health authorities had traced all 135 contacts, both within Kenya and internationally, by October 22, placing them under quarantine and monitoring.

The WHO continues to support Kenya’s response through coordination, disease surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, case management, infection prevention and control, screening at points of entry, and public health communication.

The WHO Representative to Kenya, Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, said people who completed quarantine had helped protect their families and communities.

“People who complete quarantine have helped protect their families, their communities and the whole country,” she said.

Kimambo also commended Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the Kenya National Public Health Institute, and national and county health teams for responding to new cases.

The WHO said there was no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease, but early detection and supportive medical care could improve the chances of recovery.

It advised against travel restrictions, recommending evidence-based measures such as health screening at entry and exit points, surveillance and contact tracing instead.

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Although the release of the first 20 contacts marks progress in Kenya’s response, health authorities continue to monitor those still in quarantine and maintain surveillance to identify any further cases promptly.