GOCOP mourns ex-President, Dotun Oladipo

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has expressed sadness over the death of its former President and publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo.

Oladipo died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 56.

He served as President of GOCOP from 2017 to 2021 and was among the publishers who played important roles in the development of the Guild in its formative years.

His death is a loss to GOCOP and the wider Nigerian media community.

Oladipo entered online publishing with extensive experience in the traditional media, having worked as a journalist and editor before moving into digital publishing and establishing The Eagle Online.

At a time when online news publishing was still developing in Nigeria, he was among the publishers who recognised the need for online media practitioners to come together, exchange ideas and build a stronger professional community.

His tenure as GOCOP President coincided with a period of rapid growth in online publishing, as more digital news platforms emerged and social media increasingly transformed how Nigerians accessed and shared information.

As President, Oladipo represented GOCOP at various engagements and worked with members to address the opportunities and challenges associated with the growth of online publishing.

Nmodu: His contribution will be remembered
GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, described Oladipo’s death as painful for the Guild, saying he made significant contributions to its development.

“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 said 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,” he said.

Oladipo’s journalism career began long before online publishing became a major source of news in Nigeria.

His experience in the mainstream media provided him with a background in reporting, editing and newsroom management, which he later brought to digital publishing.

As publisher of The Eagle Online, he became part of the growing community of journalists and publishers who moved into the digital space as the internet transformed the media industry.

GOCOP said Oladipo’s contribution to the Guild should be viewed against this period of rapid transformation in Nigerian journalism.

The Guild also remembered him as a colleague who maintained relationships with publishers across the country and remained interested in the affairs of the organisation after leaving office.

GOCOP extended its condolences to Oladipo’s family, the management and staff of The Eagle Online, and his friends and colleagues in the media industry.

The Guild said it would work with his family and associates on plans to honour his memory.

Signed:
Kemi Yesufu
Publicity Secretary
Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP)