Lasun Alagbe
The death of veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan, aka Ogogo, has not only diminished the temple of legends in Nigeria, but it has also brought to memory how devastating cancer is.
News of Ogogo’s passage is spreading like wildfire though no official statement has been released by the family.
He passed away on Sunday at the age of 66.
Her daughter, Kaira, who announced days ago that he had stage 4 cancer, has confirmed the sad development alongside some other industry players.
The scourge had indeed ended the lives of more than several prominent people across industries in Nigeria.
While some have been lucky to have survived it — including the Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and the World Trade boss Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala — a good number had not been lucky.
- Maryam Babangida – The former First Lady and wife of military leader Ibrahim Babangida died of ovarian/related cancer on December 27, 2009.
- Prof. Dora Akunyili – The renowned pharmacist, former NAFDAC Director-General, and Minister of Information succumbed to ovarian cancer on June 7, 2014.
- Chief Gani Fawehinmi – The iconic human rights lawyer, activist, and author passed away from lung cancer on September 5, 2009.
Fawehinmi
- Dr. Olusola Saraki – The prominent Second Republic Senate Leader and politician from Kwara State died on November 14, 2012, after a five-year battle with cancer.
- Alhaji Arisekola Alao: Billionaire and former Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland
Arisekola Alao
- Sound Sultan (Olanrewaju Fasasi) – The legendary Nigerian multitalented singer, rapper, and songwriter died of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (a rare form of cancer) on July 11, 2021.
- Majek Fashek – The iconic reggae singer-songwriter and guitarist (“The Rainmaker”) passed away from esophageal cancer on June 1, 2020.
Prof. Dora Akunyili
- Alexx Ekubo – The celebrated Nollywood actor passed away on May 11, 2026, following a battle with metastatic kidney cancer.
- Sunny Okosun – The legendary musician and freedom crusader died of colon cancer on May 24, 2008.
Alexx Ekubo
- Yinka Craig – The veteran NTA ace broadcaster and sports journalist died on September 23, 2008, following complications from cancer of the immune system.
Causes of cancer
An online account states thus:
- Inherited genes: Faulty genes passed from parents to children raise the risk for specific cancers like breast or ovarian cancer.
- Age: Getting older allows more time for cell damage to build up in the body.
- Tobacco use: Smoking or chewing tobacco damages cells and causes lung, mouth, and throat cancers.
- Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol raises the risk of liver, breast, and bowel cancers.
- Poor diet: Eating processed meats and very little fiber increases risk.
- Obesity: Carried extra weight causes long-term swelling and changes hormone levels.
- No exercise: Being inactive makes weight control harder.
- Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and radon gas damage skin and tissue.
- Toxic substances: Breathing in asbestos, benzene, or arsenic harms cells over time.
- Air pollution: Dirty air raises lung cancer risks.
- Viruses and bacteria: Certain infections like Human Papillomavirus (HPV) or Hepatitis B and C can change cell behaviour over time.
