Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri has penned an emotional tribute to his late friend and colleague, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, sharing the details of their last encounter at the hospital.

In a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday, Quadri reflected on their over 40-year friendship, the bond they shared, and the painful reality of losing someone so dear.

Quadri recalled visiting Ogogo on his sick bed, where he couldn’t hold back his tears. He also remembered Ogogo drinking water and asking doctors to confirm that he had eaten that morning, a moment that gave him hope.

The Yoruba actorexpressed gratitude that Ogogo did not suffer a prolonged illness or endure constant financial struggles, and he thanked God for the life and memories he left behind.

He described their friendship as a divine gift, one that withstood rumours, misunderstandings, and time.

He noted that even when people speculated about conflicts between them, they would always be seen together, laughing and chatting.

Yinka Quadri further prayed for Ogogo’s eternal rest and strength for his family.

He wrote:

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un (Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.) The word of God reminds us that everything in this world has an end. Both the rich and the poor, the mighty and the humble, will all taste death. Who are we to question the will of our Creator?”

“Today, with a heavy heart, I thank God for the beautiful life you lived, my bosom friend, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo. I thank God that you did not have to go through a prolonged struggle that would have left us constantly seeking financial assistance to care for you. I thank God that your illness did not keep us moving you from one place to another in search of help. Above all, I thank God for the life He gave you and the memories you left behind.”

“May the Almighty forgive your shortcomings, grant you eternal rest, and receive your soul into His loving care.”

“Taiwo Hassan, I will never forget the last time I saw you at the hospital. You were lying on your sick bed, and when I saw you, I could not hold back my tears. You looked at me and said, ‘Yinka, don’t cry. Nothing bad will happen to me.’ I responded, ‘Yes, Amen.’ A few minutes later, you asked me to give you the bottle of water on the table. I gave it to you, and you drank from it. Then you looked at me and said, ‘Yinka, can you see that I drank the water, even though I ate this morning?’ You asked the doctors to confirm whether it was true that you had eaten that morning, and they confirmed it. At that moment, I said, ‘Glory be to God.’ My hope and faith became even stronger. The doctors only advised us to remain prayerful.”

“Deep down, I know this was not your wish. It was not your wish to leave us so soon. It was not your wish to leave your children, your family, your friends, and the many people who loved you. But as painful as it is, we must accept the unquestionable will of God.”

“How many of our memories can I possibly remember? We have known each other since 1984, and with time, our friendship grew into something beyond ordinary friendship. Many people tried to create a distance between us, but God never allowed it. Neither of us ever went to the public to speak against the other. Whenever people heard rumours that we were fighting, they were only guessing. They never heard it from us. What made our friendship special was the way we handled our disagreements. Whenever we had a misunderstanding, people would anticipate what would happen the next time we met at a public function. Yet, to their surprise, they would see us sitting beside each other, laughing, chatting, and walking together as if nothing had happened.”

“The same thing happened on movie locations. We were always together, and people would wonder, ‘How can people say these two are fighting when they are always together?’ I remember when Ajobiewe once called us out at a party. He met us sitting together. Nobody told him that we were fighting; he simply assumed it. Afterwards, you and I even looked at each other and wondered, ‘Did Ajobiewe actually see us fighting? Why did he call us out?’ That was who we were.”

“You were more than a friend to me. You were my brother, my confidant, and my companion. I have always said that we were twins from heaven, only born to different mothers. Today, I understand even more deeply that some friendships are gifts from God—friendships that time, disagreements, rumours, and circumstances cannot destroy.”

“My dear friend, my beloved brother, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo, your departure has left a space that words cannot fill. But I will forever cherish the memories we shared, the laughter, the journeys, the movie locations, the disagreements we overcame, and the countless moments that made our friendship special. You may have left this world, but you will never leave my heart.”

“May Almighty God forgive your sins, grant you eternal rest, and give your family, children, friends, and loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss. Rest peacefully, my beloved friend. Rest well, my brother. Until we meet again, may your soul rest in perfect peace. TAIWO HASSAN OGOGO — FOREVER IN MY HEART.”

The Nigerian Voice recalls that ‘Ogogo’, who was battling stage-four cancer, passed away on Sunday at 3:00 pm at the age of 66, according to a statement issued by his colleague, Jide Kosoko.

He was buried on Monday in his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, following Islamic rites.