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Colleagues of veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Babatunde Hassan, widely known as Ogogo, will gather for a special Islamic prayer session on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Organised exclusively for industry peers, the gathering reflects growing concern across the film community following the actor’s Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, which has sparked widespread anxiety among his family, friends, and fans.

According to a statement, the initiative aims to unite Ogogo’s colleagues in faith to seek divine mercy, intervention, and full recovery for the beloved performer.

The special prayer is scheduled to take place immediately after Juma’at on Friday.

The venue is BOS Hall, Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu Hall, LTV8, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

The organisers stressed that the gathering is strictly for Ogogo’s colleagues and urged only those who worked with or are professionally connected to the veteran actor to attend.

“It is no longer news that our dear colleague, Mr. Taiwo Babatunde Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, indicating the seriousness of his condition,” the statement said.

According to the organisers, while doctors are making efforts to save the actor’s life and members of the public continue to pray for his recovery, his colleagues also believe it is important to come together and offer a collective prayer for him.

“While the doctors are making every effort to save his life, and as the general public, his fans, family and friends continue to pray for his recovery, we believe that it is important for us, his colleagues, to come together in a joint Islamic prayer for our dear brother and colleague,” they said.

The prayer session is also coming against the backdrop of growing concern within the Yoruba film industry over Ogogo’s condition, with several of his senior colleagues recently appealing to the public to intensify prayers for the actor.

Veteran actors Jude Kosoko, Yinka Quadri and Dele Odule had earlier disclosed that Ogogo needs intense prayers and should not be moved around for spiritual consultations given the seriousness of his condition.

Kosoko had explained that the family continues to receive calls from well-meaning Nigerians offering suggestions on where the actor could be taken for spiritual intervention, but stressed that his condition does not allow him to be pushed around from one place to another.

“The most important thing is that he’s being attended to and we can keep praying for him,” Kosoko said.

The Friday gathering therefore provides an opportunity for Ogogo’s colleagues to unite in prayer without physically moving the ailing actor, as they seek divine intervention on his behalf.

The organisers appealed to colleagues to attend the session in the spirit of love, unity and faith, saying their presence and prayers would be deeply appreciated at the critical moment.

They prayed for Allah’s mercy, asking that Ogogo be completely healed, restored to good health and granted many more years.

“May Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, heal Ogogo completely, restore his health and grant him many more years in good health,” the statement added.

The organisers also prayed for the continued protection and blessings of Ogogo’s colleagues and urged everyone to come together in solidarity for the veteran actor.

The gathering is expected to draw members of the Yoruba film industry and the broader creative community, many of whom have consistently rallied around Ogogo and his family since his diagnosis became public.

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Veteran actor Jide Kosoko has explained why his colleague, Taiwo Babatunde Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, cannot be moved from the hospital despite receiving hundreds of offers from people willing to assist with his treatment.

Kosoko made this known via an Instagram post, appreciating fans, colleagues and well-wishers who have expressed concern over Ogogo’s health and offered prayers, medical assistance and spiritual intervention.

According to the actor, more than 300 people, and possibly over 500, have reached out with offers of assistance, with each person believing they have something that could help Ogogo recover.

He, however, said it would be extremely difficult to move Ogogo from the hospital to different locations while he is receiving medical care.

“We have received hundreds of such offers, and we sincerely appreciate every single one of them,” Kosoko said.

“However, we humbly appeal to everyone not to stop praying for Ogogo. Please, continue to pray with us.”

Kosoko said the number of offers had created a practical challenge for the family and those caring for Ogogo.

“It is extremely difficult to move him from the hospital to different locations at this stage of his treatment, especially considering the large number of people who have offered to help,” he said.

He added: “We have received offers from more than 300, and even over 500 people, each sincerely believing that they have something that could help him. The challenge is simply: Where do we take him to? And how do we move him from the hospital while he is receiving care?”

The veteran actor appealed to those who had offered to assist not to feel offended if Ogogo could not be brought to them for spiritual treatment or other interventions.

Kosoko stressed that the inability to accept or act on every offer did not mean that the family doubted the intentions of those reaching out.

“Please understand that our inability to bring Ogogo to anyone does not mean that we do not appreciate you, nor does it mean that we doubt your intentions or your desire to help,” he said.

He expressed gratitude for the widespread support Ogogo has received from people in Nigeria and around the world, urging supporters to continue praying for the actor from wherever they are.

Kosoko said the family remained hopeful about Ogogo’s recovery.

“We believe strongly that, with your prayers, our prayers, and the mercy of Almighty God, Taye will come out of this situation successfully. There is nothing impossible before Almighty God,” he said.

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Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has clarified reports of an alleged attack on the convoy of Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke.

Reports had emerged that suspected hoodlums engaged security personnel attached to the governor’s convoy in a gun battle at the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, on Wednesday.

The incident was said to have occurred shortly after Adeleke received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and visited the monarch’s palace to celebrate his electoral victory.

However, Davido, in a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday evening, dismissed reports linking the reported fight to the governor’s convoy.

According to him, the incident occurred outside the palace and had nothing to do with the governor or his entourage.

“Lies! It was a fight outside the palace that had nothing to do with us. The people love his excellency,” he wrote.

The clarification came amid reports of heightened activity around the palace following the governor’s visit after his victory in the recent Osun State governorship election.