Veteran Nigerian filmmaker Ola Balogun has directed that his organs be donated to people in need and that the remainder of his body be handed over to medical institutions for research and the training of future doctors after his death.
The 81-year-old made the declaration in a public rendition of his last will and testament while receiving treatment at Josek Medical Centre in Ogba, Lagos, following a recent health scare shortly after celebrating his 81st birthday.
Explaining why he chose to make his wishes public instead of preparing a formal will through a lawyer, Balogun said his recent illness prompted him to put his intentions on record.
“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,” he wrote.
Balogun revealed that he drew inspiration from the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s approach to preparing for death.
“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 his directive, the acclaimed filmmaker instructed that immediately after his death is medically certified, any viable organs, including his kidneys and eyes, should be donated to patients in need.
He further directed that whatever remains of his body should be handed over to medical institutions to support medical education and research.
“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. After that, I hereby direct that whatever is left over should be speedily handed over to appropriate medical institutions for use by future doctors,” he said.
Explaining the motivation behind the decision, Balogun said he believes his body should continue to serve humanity even after his 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.”
Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s film industry, Balogun has enjoyed a career spanning several decades, producing films and documentaries in English, Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin.
His notable works include Alpha, Ija Ominira, Amadi, Nigersteel, Ajani Ogun, Musik Man and Oorun Moru. He is also recognised as one of the first generation of Nigerian filmmakers alongside the late Hubert Ogunde, Ade Love, Jab Adu and Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala)….See more