Ajoke Taiwo: Ogogo’s First Wife Known as ‘Iya Jesu’

Alhaja Ajoke Taiwo, the first wife of late veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, is a largely private figure who played an important role in the actor’s personal and family life.

Affectionately known in her community as “Iya Jesu,” a nickname reflecting her strong Christian faith, Ajoke is a devout Christian, while Ogogo was a practising Muslim. Despite their different religious backgrounds, the couple maintained their individual beliefs throughout their marriage, with neither partner converting to the other’s faith.

Their interfaith marriage reflected a reality common in many Nigerian families, particularly in Yorubaland, where couples from different religious backgrounds often build families while maintaining their respective beliefs.

Ajoke was reportedly involved in acting before her marriage to Ogogo but later stepped away from the profession to focus on raising their children and taking care of family responsibilities.

Together, Ajoke and Ogogo raised their children, including their daughters Kira Taiwo and Lima Taiwo. Their family life largely remained away from the public spotlight, even as Ogogo became one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba-language Nollywood.

Ogogo would later marry a second wife, a family arrangement that exists within some Muslim and traditional Nigerian households. Despite the development of his family, Ajoke remained an important part of his personal history as his first wife.

Ogogo’s career spanned more than four decades, during which he established himself as one of the most respected actors in Yoruba cinema. He featured in several notable productions, including Owo Blow in the 1990s and Aníkúlápó in more recent years.

Unlike her husband, whose career kept him in the public eye, Ajoke largely maintained a private life. Consequently, much of what is publicly known about her has emerged through accounts and tributes surrounding Ogogo rather than independent coverage of her own life.

Following Ogogo’s death on August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, after a battle with stage-four cancer, tributes have continued to pour in from family members, friends, colleagues and fans across the Nigerian entertainment industry.

As Nigerians remember the veteran actor and his remarkable contribution to Yoruba cinema, Ajoke Taiwo’s story remains a quiet but significant part of his personal journey — the woman affectionately known as “Iya Jesu,” who shared years of family life with one of Nollywood’s most recognisable figures.