Veteran Nigerian filmmaker Ola Balogun has revealed his final wishes, directing that his organs be donated to those in need and that his body be handed over to medical institutions for research and the training of future doctors after his death.
The 81-year-old filmmaker made the declaration in a public statement he described as his last will and testament, released while receiving medical attention at Josek Medical Centre, Ogba, Lagos, following a recent health challenge shortly after celebrating his birthday.
Balogun, who clocked 81 on August 1, explained that his decision to make his wishes public was influenced by his current health situation and his belief that one should prepare properly for the end of life.
Reflecting on his condition, the filmmaker wrote:
“Barely a week after I was privileged to celebrate my 81st birthday on August 1st, a fresh medical alert has obliged me to once more seek treatment… Consequently, I am hastily writing these few lines, not knowing whether or not I am destined to emerge alive from my latest confrontation with illness.”
The veteran filmmaker said his decision was inspired by the late Nigerian statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whom he described as someone who believed that departure from life should be approached with proper planning and order.
“Like the late sage, I firmly believe that departure from earthly existence should involve a well-thought-out and orderly process, rather akin to preparation for a long journey,” he stated.
In the document, Balogun instructed that after his death has been medically confirmed, any useful organs including his kidneys and eyes should be removed and donated to people who require them.
He further directed that the remaining parts of his body should be transferred to recognised medical institutions for educational purposes, allowing future doctors to gain practical knowledge through research and training.
“I hereby further direct that immediately after my physical demise would have been medically certified, my remains should be speedily dissected in order to extract any vital organs that might be useful for donation,” he wrote.
“After that, I hereby direct that whatever is left over should be speedily handed over to appropriate medical institutions for use by future doctors.”
Explaining the motivation behind his decision, Balogun said he believes human remains should continue to serve a meaningful purpose even after death.
“The above decisions concerning the disposal of my corpse are rooted in the firm conviction that my physical remains should, if possible, be useful to the living,” he said.
Ola Balogun is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s film industry. With a career spanning several decades, he has contributed immensely to Nigerian cinema through films and documentaries produced in English, Yoruba, Pidgin and Igbo languages.
Some of his notable works include “Alpha,” “Ija Ominira,” “Amadi,” “Nigersteel,” “Ajani Ogun,” “Musik Man,” and “Oorun Moru.”
He is also recognised as part of the first generation of Nigerian filmmakers alongside legendary figures such as Hubert Ogunde, Ade Love, Jab Adu, and Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala), whose contributions helped shape the foundation of the country’s film industry.
