By Odita Sunday
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has expressed grief over the death of its former President and Publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, describing his passing as a painful loss to the Guild and the wider Nigerian media industry.
Oladipo died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 56. He served as GOCOP President between 2017 and 2021 and was among the publishers who played key roles in shaping the organisation during its formative years.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kemi Yesufu, the Guild said Oladipo brought considerable experience from the traditional media to online publishing, having worked as a journalist and editor before establishing The Eagle Online.
The Guild noted that Oladipo was among the early publishers who recognised the need for online publishers to come together, exchange ideas and build a stronger professional community at a time when digital journalism was still developing in Nigeria.
As GOCOP President, Oladipo devoted considerable time to the affairs of the Guild, representing the organisation at various engagements and working with members as online publishing expanded rapidly and faced new opportunities and challenges.
Reacting to his death, GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, described Oladipo’s contribution to the development of the Guild as significant.
“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 combined his experience as a journalist with his understanding of the publishing business to advance the interests of online media.
“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,” he said.
GOCOP said Oladipo’s journalism career began long before online publishing became a major source of news in Nigeria, noting that his experience in mainstream media provided him with a strong foundation in reporting, editing and newsroom management.
He later moved into digital publishing as the internet transformed the way Nigerians accessed and shared news, becoming publisher of The Eagle Online.
The Guild said his tenure coincided with a period of rapid expansion in Nigeria’s online media industry, marked by the emergence of numerous news platforms and the growing influence of social media on news distribution.
GOCOP also remembered Oladipo as a colleague who maintained strong relationships with publishers across the country and continued to take an interest in the affairs of the Guild after leaving office.
The Guild extended its condolences to his family, management and staff of The Eagle Online, as well as his friends and colleagues in the media industry.
It said it would work with his family and associates on plans to honour his memory.
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