President Bola Tinubu has mourned veteran journalist and Publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, describing his death as a painful loss to Nigeria’s media industry and the nation.
Oladipo who is also a former Political Editor of The Punch newspaper, died at the age of 56 on Tuesday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu acknowledged Oladipo’s contributions to political journalism and the growth of digital media in Nigeria.
The President commended the late journalist for his years of service in political reporting and his efforts to provide Nigerians with credible information through traditional and digital platforms.
Tinubu said Oladipo’s career reflected the vital role of journalism in strengthening democracy by keeping citizens informed, holding public officials accountable and providing avenues for public discourse.
He also recalled Oladipo’s passion for journalism and his role in advancing digital media through The Eagle Online, which he established after his career at The Punch.
“Dotun Oladipo’s death at the age of 56 is a painful loss to the Nigerian media community and to our nation. He was a committed journalist who devoted significant years of his life to informing the public and contributing to the development of our democracy,” Tinubu said.
The President said Oladipo’s contributions to political journalism and digital media would not be forgotten.
He extended his condolences to Oladipo’s family, colleagues in the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and friends, while praying for the repose of his soul.
“I pray that Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” he added.
NPO reports that Dotun was the President of The Guild of Corporate Online Publisher (GOCOP) from 2017 to 2021 and was one of the publishers who helped shape the Guild in its early years.