Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has faced criticism from some Nigerians after publicly celebrating her birthday on the same day veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, was laid to rest.

Ogogo, 66, reportedly died after battling stage-four cancer and was buried in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday according to Islamic rites.

Funke Akindele celebrates birthday

Akindele marked her birthday on Monday with a message of gratitude shared on Instagram.

The actress thanked God for another year and prayed that her life would continue to inspire others.

“Today is my birthday. My heart is full of gratitude to God for all He has done, all He is doing, and all that is still to come,” she wrote.

She added that she wanted her life to remain a testimony and encouraged people to continue believing, dreaming and pushing forward.

Nigerians react

Her birthday post subsequently sparked debate on social media, with some users accusing the actress of being insensitive because it coincided with Ogogo’s burial.

One critic questioned why she chose to publicly celebrate on the same day her senior colleague in Nollywood was being buried.

Another user wrote that while Akindele had every right to celebrate her birthday, she should have considered the timing and shown restraint because Nigerians were mourning Ogogo.

Others, however, noted that birthdays and funerals can occur on the same day and that celebrating a personal milestone does not necessarily mean someone is disrespecting the deceased.

The controversy has therefore centred largely on whether Akindele’s birthday post was inappropriate given the timing of Ogogo’s burial, rather than on her right to mark her special day.