Lagos: Nollywood actress Toyosi Adesanya has alleged that some of her colleagues declined to support the burial of the late actress Temitope Osoba, citing her lack of membership in the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN). Adesanya made these claims during a candlelight procession and artistes' night held in Ikeja, Lagos State, in memory of Osoba.
According to Ghana Web, Adesanya, who serves as the National Director of Social and Welfare for TAMPAN, represented the association's President, Bolaji Amusan, also known as Mr Latin, at the event. She appealed to practitioners in the entertainment industry to support one another both in life and in death and condemned the behaviors she described as deception and 'eye service' among colleagues.
Adesanya recounted efforts to raise funds for Osoba's burial that were met with resistance by some practitioners who questioned her membership status in TAMPAN. She expressed her dismay, stating, "Do you know that when Tope died, I was talking to the president about soliciting some funds for her burial, but some of our colleagues declined, saying that she wasn't a member of TAMPAN and that she didn't practice."
Osoba's death occurred less than a year after she publicly shared her battle with breast cancer and sought financial aid for her treatment. In August 2025, she had announced her return to acting following surgery and other treatments, stating she had been declared cancer-free. Her death sparked reactions and controversy among colleagues and fans, particularly concerning the support she received from the entertainment industry before and after her demise.
Adesanya implored actors and other practitioners to celebrate and support one another while alive, emphasizing that people should be appreciated during their lifetimes. "I have a message for you all, let's celebrate ourselves while we are alive. Don't judge anybody, let's focus on our lives. Temitope came, saw but lost the battle to death," she said.
The actress also criticized the perceived hypocrisy within the industry, noting the discrepancy between those who attended Osoba's candlelight procession and the support she received when she needed it. Adesanya urged practitioners to replace rivalry and division with love, unity, and genuine support, stressing that death should not be the point at which colleagues begin to show concern for one another.