By Remi Adebayo
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has described the death of its former president, Dotun Oladipo, as a loss to the Guild and the wider Nigerian media community.
GOCOP expressed sadness over the death of the publisher of The Eagle Online who died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 56.
In a statement on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Kemi Yesufu, GOCOP recalled that Oladipo, who served as the President of the body between 2017 and 2021 was one of the publishers who shaped the Guild in its early years.
"His death is a loss to GOCOP and the wider Nigerian media community," the statement stated.
Yesufu further noted that Oladipo came into online publishing with years of experience in the traditional media where he had worked as a journalist and editor before moving into digital publishing and bringing that experience to The Eagle Online.
"At a time when online news publishing was still developing in Nigeria, he was among those who saw the need for publishers to come together, share ideas and build a stronger professional community.
"That was also the period when GOCOP was growing from an association of online publishers into an organisation with a clear identity and a growing presence in the Nigerian media industry," the statement noted.l
During his tenure as the President GOCOP said Oladipo devoted considerable time to the affairs of the Guild.
"He represented GOCOP at different engagements and worked with members as the organisation dealt with the opportunities and challenges that came with the rapid growth of online publishing," Yesufu said in the statement.
According to the release, GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, has also described Oladipo’s death as painful for the Guild.
“Dotun played an important role in the development of GOCOP. He led the Guild for four years at a time when there was still a lot of work to be done to establish online publishers as an important part of the media. His contribution will always be remembered,” Nmodu said.
He added that Oladipo brought his experience as a journalist and publisher to the leadership of the Guild.
“Dotun understood journalism and he understood the business of publishing. He was passionate about the place of online media in Nigeria and he gave his time to the growth of the Guild. We are saddened by his passing,” Nmodu said.
He further stressed that the deceased's involvement in journalism began long before the emergence of online publishing as a major source of news in Nigeria, adding tnah his career in the mainstream media gave him a grounding in reporting, editing and newsroom management.
He later became the publisher of The Eagle Online, joining a group of journalists and publishers who moved into the digital space as the internet changed the way Nigerians received and shared news.
"His years in GOCOP coincided with a period of rapid growth in online publishing. More news platforms were emerging, social media was changing the way stories reached readers, and online publishers were becoming increasingly important to the Nigerian media industry," the Guild stated.
It also remembered him as a colleague who maintained relationships with publishers across the country and took an active interest in the affairs of the organisation even after leaving office.
GOCOP extended its condolences to the family of the late journalist, the management and staff of The Eagle Online, as well as his friends and colleagues in the media industry.
The Guild assured that it would work with his family and associates on plans to honour his memory.
No comments:
Post a Comment