Two daughters of veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, have appealed to Nigerians, well-wishers and medical professionals to help save their father, who they disclosed is battling stage-four cancer.
The daughters, Lima and Kira Taiwo, made separate emotional appeals on Instagram on Monday, saying hospitals had refused to continue treating the 66-year-old actor.
The development has sparked concern among fans and colleagues of the veteran actor, who has spent more than four decades in the Nigerian film industry and remains one of the best-known faces in Yoruba cinema.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, Lima said her father’s condition had deteriorated and appealed to hospitals and medical professionals with experience in cancer treatment to give him another chance.
Fighting back tears, she said the family was desperate to find a medical facility or specialist willing to take over his treatment.
“Hello everybody, good evening. I’m here to ask for help for my daddy. He has cancer and it’s really, really bad,” she said.
Lima said the family had been told that hospitals were unwilling to continue treating the actor and urged anyone with a connection to a medical professional or facility that could handle his condition to intervene.
“And the hospitals are refusing to treat him. At least, please, give this man a chance. Nobody wants to do anything,” she added.
According to her, the family only became aware of the seriousness of the actor’s condition about three weeks ago.
She explained that although Hassan had been battling the disease, his physical appearance did not initially show how serious his condition was.
“You see him, you can’t even know that. Something is wrong that bad. It’s just starting to show. We didn’t even know until like three weeks ago,” she said.
Lima stressed that the family was not asking the public for money.
Instead, she said they needed medical assistance and wanted anyone who could connect the family with a hospital, cancer specialist or other healthcare provider to come forward.
“Please, I’m begging you. If you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, anything, we’re willing to try anything. We’re not here to ask for money. Nobody’s here to ask for money,” she said.
She also acknowledged the support of a relative who, according to her, had stepped in to assist the family during the difficult period.
“My big uncle has helped a lot. He has been of great help. Like, nobody even knew that he would show up for us this way,” she said.
Lima ended her appeal with an emotional plea for help, saying she could not bear to watch her father die.
“But if he’s willing to do anything, please, if you know somebody that knows somebody that will be willing to treat him, would you really appreciate it? Please, I can’t watch my daddy die. I can’t,” she said.
In a separate video, her sister, Kira, disclosed that the actor’s cancer had reached stage four.
She said the family had been informed that the hospital treating him could no longer administer chemotherapy.
“Hello everyone, I’m here for my daddy. He has cancer and is in stage 4. The hospital is saying that they cannot treat him again, like they can’t give him chemo again,” Kira said.
She appealed to anyone who could provide cancer treatment for the actor to contact the family.
Kira also expressed appreciation to Senator Yayi, whom she said had been helping the family and paying some of the medical bills.
“And I really, really, really love to appreciate Senator Yayi. He has been the one helping us, he has been the one footing the bills,” she said.
The actress’ daughter again made it clear that the family’s immediate need was medical intervention rather than financial donations.
She appealed to anyone with knowledge of a hospital, doctor or other medical professional capable of treating cancer to reach out to the family.
“What I’m here for is that if you can treat my daddy, if you can start chemo for him, whether it’s medical or herbs, please, I’m begging you,” she said.
Kira urged members of the public with useful medical contacts to send her a direct message or contact her sister or their father.
“Please, please, if you can treat my daddy, please send me a DM. I’ll be checking my phone. Please, I don’t want my daddy to die,” she said.
She became emotional while describing her father’s condition, saying she had never seen him experience such severe pain.
“God, give me strength. I’m suffering so bad. There’s no money, but if you know anybody that can treat my daddy, Andrew, please,” she said.
Kira also disclosed that her father had expressed fear of dying.
“He’s saying that he doesn’t want to die. Please, I’ve never seen my daddy in that kind of pain before,” she said.
The family’s appeal has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by cancer patients in Nigeria, particularly those requiring specialised and prolonged treatment.
Cancer treatment can involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other forms of care, depending on the type and stage of the disease. Treatment at an advanced stage can also be more difficult and may require specialised medical teams and facilities.
Nigeria has continued to face challenges in cancer care, including limited access to specialised treatment, high treatment costs and shortages of some medical equipment and personnel.
For many families, the financial burden of cancer treatment can be heavy, particularly when treatment continues for a long period.
In Hassan’s case, however, his daughters have stressed that their immediate appeal is for medical help and access to specialists who may be able to assess his condition and determine whether further treatment is possible.
Taiwo Hassan, 66, is one of the veteran actors who helped shape Yoruba-language cinema in Nigeria.
His career in the entertainment industry spans more than four decades, during which he has appeared in more than 300 films and television productions.
Popularly known as Ogogo, he has built a strong following through his roles in Yoruba movies and has remained active in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
His long career has made him a familiar figure to generations of Nigerian movie lovers, particularly fans of Yoruba-language films.
The appeal by his daughters has therefore generated concern among fans and colleagues who have followed his career over the years.
As the family seeks urgent medical assistance, the daughters are calling on medical professionals, hospitals and other individuals with the capacity to assist to come forward.
Their message remains focused on one request: that their father should be given another opportunity to receive medical care.
For Lima and Kira, the priority is to find a specialist or medical facility willing to assess Hassan’s condition and determine what treatment options remain available to him.
The family’s emotional appeal has also renewed public attention on the need for improved access to specialised cancer care in Nigeria, particularly for patients whose conditions require advanced treatment.
For now, the veteran actor’s daughters remain hopeful that their appeal will reach the right medical professionals and help secure the urgent intervention they are seeking for their father.