Ailing veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Dr. Ola Balogun, has announced that his kidneys, eyes and other usable organs should be donated to people in need after his death, while the rest of his body should be handed over to medical institutions for research and the training of future doctors.
The 81-year-old filmmaker made the declaration in a document titled “Public Rendition of My Last Will and Testament,” published on WhatsApp after he returned to Josek Medical Centre in Ogba, Ikeja, following a fresh health challenge.
Balogun said he decided to make his final wishes public because he was uncertain whether he would survive his latest illness.
“Barely a week after I was privileged to celebrate my 81st birthday.
”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 said.
He explained that he could not immediately engage a lawyer to prepare a formal will, prompting him to publicly outline his wishes.
“I have decided to have recourse to the present public document in order to leave instructions behind in the event that my physical being should succumb to death within the next few days or weeks, ” he said.
Balogun said he drew inspiration from the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whom he praised for preparing his affairs before his passing.
“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 said.
As part of his legacy, the celebrated filmmaker also bequeathed the copyright earnings from his films to the Nigerian people.
On the disposal of his body, Balogun directed that his organs be harvested immediately after his death is medically certified to save the lives of others.
“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 to persons in need, ” he said.
He further instructed that whatever remains of his body should be donated to medical institutions for anatomical studies and the training of future doctors.
“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.
