Veteran Nigerian filmmaker Ola Balogun has revealed that he wants his organs donated and his body 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 version of his last will and testament while receiving treatment at the 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 drafting a conventional will through a lawyer, Balogun said the decision was prompted by concerns over his health.
“Barely a week after I was privileged to celebrate my 81st birthday on August 1, 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 said he drew inspiration from the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose approach to planning for death he admired.
“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 will, the filmmaker directed that immediately after his death is medically confirmed, any viable organs, including his kidneys and eyes, should be donated to people in need. He further instructed that the remainder of his body be released to medical institutions for educational and research purposes.
“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 wrote.
Explaining the motivation behind the directive, Balogun said he believes his remains should continue to serve humanity 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,” he added.
Balogun is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s film industry. Over a career spanning several decades, he has produced numerous films and documentaries in English, Yoruba, Pidgin and Igbo. 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).
