By BONIFACE AKARAH

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

A statement signed by Kemi

Yesufu, the Publicity Secretary of

Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), said that Oladipo served as President of GOCOP from 2017 to 2021 and was among the publishers who played important roles in shaping the Guild during its formative years.

Reacting to his death, the current GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, described Oladipo’s passing as painful, noting his contribution to the development of the organisation and online publishing in Nigeria.

“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 combined his experience in journalism with a strong understanding of the publishing business.

“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.

Oladipo came into online publishing after years of experience in the traditional media, where he worked as a journalist and editor before moving into digital publishing.

He later became publisher of The Eagle Online*, bringing his newsroom experience into an emerging digital media environment that was rapidly changing how Nigerians accessed and shared news.

His tenure as GOCOP President coincided with a period of significant growth in Nigeria’s online media industry, with new news platforms emerging and social media becoming an increasingly important channel for distributing news.

During his four years in office, Oladipo represented the Guild at various engagements and worked with members as the organisation sought to strengthen the professional standing of online publishers.

GOCOP said his contribution was particularly significant because it came at a time when online publishing was still establishing itself as an important part of the Nigerian media industry.

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

GOCOP expressed condolences to his family, the management and staff of The Eagle Online, as well as his friends and colleagues across the media industry.

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

Oladipo’s death marks another loss for Nigeria’s media industry, particularly the community of online publishers he helped organise and represent during a crucial period in the growth of digital journalism.