The death of any actor or filmmaker is sad, but in Nollywood, especially Yoruba Nollywood, it always follows a painful pattern.

In ‘Yoruwood’, when a big star falls ill, everyone moves fast. Industry leaders call meetings, millions of Naira are raised in hours, and social media is filled with prayers. But when a lesser-known actor or crew member gets sick, there is usually total silence.

This unfair treatment makes us ask a painful question: Why does the Nigerian movie industry care more about fame than human life?

This issue became urgent after the tragic death of Yoruba actress Temitope Osoba. She was not a stranger to the industry, having worked hard for nearly twenty years. Yet, her death was surrounded by controversy. Many people accused the industry of abandoning her on her sickbed and keeping quiet until she died. Tope was even luckier than most because a few loyal friends still tried to help her. Many others, including old veterans who started acting before Tope was even born, do not get any help at all.

This systematic failure becomes very clear when you compare how the industry treated Tope Osoba to how they treated the legendary veteran, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.

When Ogogo was sick, the entire industry stood behind him. His colleagues used all their money, time, and connections to give him emotional support, prayer networks, and financial help. As Ogogo’s remains are ready for burial in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, today, that same deep commitment is still active, with top stars leading his burial arrangements. Of course, this is how a real community should take care of its people.

But when you look at Ogogo’s support alongside Osoba’s lonely battle and the arguments after her death, the difference is clearly heartbreaking. Why does one artiste get an army of help while another is left to suffer alone just because they are not in the same A-list star bracket?

Today, basic care in Nollywood has become a luxury only meant for the famous elite.

Right next to these big stars are the smaller actors, cameramen, and set designers. They spend decades working hard to build the industry. Sometimes, their hard work and contributions are even more than those of the famous faces we see on posters. Yet, when they get sick, they suffer in the dark. When they die, nobody cares. This looks like the “animal kingdom,” where only the strong are protected, and the weak are left to die.

This selective kindness, in my view, happens for two reasons: social media views and fake sympathy. Today, showing sadness for a dead superstar brings internet traffic and praise, while helping an unknown figure wins no social media clout.

This behaviour proves that Nollywood lacks real empathy. Despite making global waves, the industry still behaves like a chaotic market rather than a united family.

This must stop.

A person deserves dignity when sick and honour when dead because they are human, not because of their Instagram followers or box office success. If Nollywood keeps judging people’s worth by their fame, it will lose its soul.

As Taiwo Hassan Ogogo goes home today, I extend my deep condolences while appealing to Yoruba Nollywood to institutionalize how it treats its sick and dead kindly. The industry must stop relying on emergency online contributions. Instead, it must set up proper health insurance, welfare funds, and pensions that protect every single member.

Until Nollywood learns to care for a Tope Osoba with the same energy it uses for an Ogogo, its claim of being a united family will remain a hypocritical lie.

-Folorunsho Hamsat is a Lagos-based journalist. He can be reached via 08051000485

One of the daughters of veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, Kira Taiwo, has shared an emotional message she exchanged with her father before his death.

Kira shared the message on her Instagram Story on Monday, following the actor’s death on Sunday at the age of 66.

The conversation, dated July 26, showed Ogogo reassuring his daughter and urging her to remain strong.

In the exchange, Ogogo told Kira that seeing her and her sisters smile gave him strength, while urging her not to cry.

He wrote, “How are you? I heard you are crying. Seeing you and your sisters smile is making me strong. If you cry, it will make me sad, and I will start to think.”

The actor, who was Muslim, further encouraged his daughter to trust in Allah, writing, “Be strong. I am strong. Nothing is going to happen to me, insha Allah. If you do, then don’t cry, my princess.”

Responding to her father, Kira said she was not crying and assured him of her faith.

“Daddy, I’m not crying oo… don’t mind Haleemah. I trust in Allah, sir. I love you very much,” she wrote.

Ogogo replied, “Love u too, my princess.”

The emotional exchange came weeks before the family disclosed that the actor was battling stage-four cancer and appealed for medical assistance.

Recall that Kira and her sister, Lima Taiwo, made separate emotional appeals on Instagram after Ogogo’s condition deteriorated.

Lima said the family had only discovered the seriousness of his illness about three weeks earlier because his physical appearance had not initially suggested that he was seriously ill.

Kira had also disclosed that the actor’s cancer was at stage four and said the hospital treating him could no longer administer chemotherapy, prompting the family to seek other medical options.

Ogogo died at about 3 pm on Sunday, according to a burial announcement shared by veteran actor Jide Kosoko.

He will be buried in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday.

A lying-in-state ceremony is scheduled for 11 am at the Pavilion, Ilaro, while the Ilaro Muslim Community announced that the burial prayer will be held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground at 10 am.

The actor is to be buried according to Islamic rites.

Ogogo was a prominent figure in the Yoruba film industry, with a career spanning several decades as an actor, filmmaker and director.

Prominent Nollywood personalities have rallied support for veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, following an emotional appeal by his daughters for medical assistance as he battles stage-four cancer.

Actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo, in a post on his X page on Monday, urged members of the public to help the family find medical professionals and facilities capable of reviewing Hassan’s medical records and offering treatment options.

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

He said the family was not seeking financial assistance but urgently needed medical direction.

“As shared by his family, they are NOT looking for money or financial support. What they urgently need is medical direction,” he said.

Adebayo called for recommendations for standard hospitals, specialists and advanced treatment centres anywhere in the world that could review the actor’s medical files and provide treatment options.

“If you know someone who knows someone in the oncology space, or a medical avenue that can assist, please help reach out to his family immediately,” he added.

He urged the public to share the appeal until it reached people who could assist the actor.

Also on Tuesday, actress Toyin Abraham shared a video of Hassan’s daughters on her Instagram page, asking those who could help to contact the daughters or her.

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

The support followed separate emotional appeals by Hassan’s daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, on Instagram on Monday.

The daughters said their father was battling stage-four cancer and appealed to Nigerians, well-wishers and medical professionals with expertise in cancer treatment to help find a facility or specialist willing to treat him.

Lima said her father’s condition had deteriorated and that hospitals had refused to continue treating him, while Kira said the actor could no longer receive chemotherapy at his hospital.

Both daughters stressed that the family was not seeking money but medical assistance that could give their father another chance.

Hassan, 66, is a veteran of the Nigerian film industry whose career spans more than four decades. He has featured in more than 300 films and is one of the recognisable figures in Yoruba cinema.