Nollywood actor Saidi Balogun and his family have paid an emotional tribute to his late daughter, Zeenat Balogun, on what would have been her birthday.
The remembrance was shared in a heartfelt video posted on Instagram by Saidi’s son, Khalid Balogun, featuring family members and close friends reflecting on Zeenat’s life, courage, and enduring legacy.
In the tribute, loved ones described Zeenat as a fighter who faced the challenges of sickle cell anaemia with remarkable strength and resilience.
“She was a warrior; she stood firm in the days of pain. She went through it with strength; she didn’t let it define her life. Zeenat died of sickle cell complications,” one family member said in the video.
Accompanying the post, Khalid wrote that the family chose to celebrate Zeenat’s life rather than focus solely on her passing.
“We only die when we are forgotten. Today, the Balogun family remembers and celebrates the life of our beloved firstborn, Zeenat Balogun, on her posthumous birthday,” he wrote.
He described his sister as someone who confronted every challenge with courage, grace, and determination, leaving behind memories that continue to inspire those who knew her.
The tribute also coincided with World Sickle Cell Day, with the family using the occasion to raise awareness about the condition and honor others living with the disease.
“As we honour her birthday, we also commemorate World Sickle Cell Day through this tribute video—raising awareness, celebrating resilience, and remembering the countless warriors fighting this condition,” Khalid added.
He concluded by saying that although Zeenat is no longer physically present, her impact continues to live on through the lives she touched.
“Zeenat may no longer be with us physically, but her love, light, and legacy remain forever alive in our hearts.”
The emotional tribute has drawn messages of support from fans and well wishers, many of whom praised the family’s decision to use her memory to inspire hope and awareness about sickle cell anaemia.