Ola Balogun, 81, Requests Organ Donation and Body Used for Medical Research After Death

• Veteran Nigerian filmmaker Ola Balogun released a public version of his last will and testament following a recent health scare
• Balogun, regarded as one of Nigeria's pioneering filmmakers, directed that his organs be donated and his body given to medical institutions
• The 81-year-old cited late statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo as an inspiration for his approach to preparing for death

Veteran Nigerian filmmaker Ola Balogun has publicly declared that his organs should be donated to those in need upon his death, and that the remainder of his body should be made available to medical institutions for anatomical research and training.

The 81-year-old director made his wishes known through a document he titled "public rendition of my last will and testament," released in the wake of a health challenge that prompted him to act.

Balogun's health scare prompted public declaration

Balogun disclosed that less than a week after celebrating his 81st birthday on 1 August 2026, he fell ill and sought treatment at the Josek Medical Centre in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

Read also

Olakunle Churchill speaks out after troubling arrest reports emerge, fans react

The uncertainty surrounding his condition at the time, combined with the absence of a legal practitioner to formalise a standard will, led him to publicly document his final wishes instead.

In the statement, Balogun specified that once his death is medically confirmed, viable organs including kidneys and eyes should be extracted and donated to individuals requiring them.

He further requested that whatever remains of his body be transferred to medical schools to aid in the education of future doctors through anatomical study.

The Nigerian filmmaker stated that his reasoning was rooted in a desire for his body to remain useful after his passing.

He also cited the late Nigerian statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo as an influence, drawing a parallel between preparing for death and preparing for a long journey, emphasising the need for order and responsibility in doing so.

A career that helped shape Nigerian cinema

Read also

Hollywood mourns as The Sopranos legend Vincent Pastore passes away at 80

Balogun is widely recognised as one of the foundational figures of Nigeria's film industry. He made his feature directorial debut in 1972 with "Alpha" and subsequently directed several landmark works including "Ija Ominira," "Amadi," "Ajani Ogun," "Musik Man," and "Oorun Moru."

His decades of contribution to the screen arts placed him alongside early pioneers such as Hubert Ogunde and Ade Afolayan as figures who collectively helped establish Nigerian cinema as a recognised art form.

His public declaration has since prompted wider conversations around organ donation, the use of bodies for medical education, and the value of planning thoughtfully for the end of life.

The Facebook post of the Nigerian filmmaker's wish is below:

Tope Osoba reportedly dies

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that information emerged on Wednesday, August 5, that Yoruba Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba had passed away.

The circumstances surrounding the actress's reported death remain unclear, with no official statement from her family.

Heartbroken fans and colleagues have flooded social media with tributes for the talented Yoruba film star.

Source: YEN.com.gh