GOCOP to Institute Dotun Oladipo Prize for Online Journalism

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced plans to institute the Dotun Oladipo Prize for Online Journalism in honour of its former president and founding member, who died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 56.

GOCOP Deputy President, Olumide Iyanda, disclosed this on Thursday at a service of songs held in honour of Oladipo at Regal Hall, Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Lagos.

Iyanda said the proposed prize would recognise outstanding online journalism in Nigeria while preserving the values Oladipo represented as a journalist, publisher and leader.

“The prize will recognise outstanding online journalism in Nigeria and keep alive the values Dotun represented as a journalist, publisher and leader. The details will be worked out by the Guild in due course,” he said.

Oladipo was a founding member of GOCOP and served as president of the Guild from 2017 to 2021. He was also the publisher of The Eagle Online, a position he held until his death.

According to Iyanda, Oladipo remained deeply involved in the affairs of GOCOP even after completing his tenure as president.

He said that at the time of his death, Oladipo was chairman of the Guild’s Constitution Review Committee and was actively involved in arrangements for members travelling from outside Lagos for GOCOP’s annual conference scheduled for October.

“That was Dotun for you. He could be involved in the big decisions and still worry about where a colleague would sleep,” Iyanda said.

The deputy president also recalled that Oladipo had planned to sign a guarantor’s form for a GOCOP member travelling outside the country on the morning he died.

“On the morning he died, he told me he was going to the office partly to sign a guarantor’s form for a GOCOP member travelling out of the country. He never got to sign it.

“Even on his last day, Dotun was thinking about what he could do for somebody else,” he said.

Describing Oladipo as a central figure in the Guild, Iyanda said he played important roles in supporting members, resolving disputes and strengthening relationships within the organisation.

“He was a major artery of GOCOP. He was our dealmaker, our peacemaker and our joy giver,” he said.

Iyanda, on behalf of GOCOP President Danlami Nmodu, Mni, the Executive Committee and members of the Guild, extended condolences to Oladipo’s wife, Taiwo, their children and the entire family.

“To Taiwo and the children, thank you for sharing Dotun with us all these years. We know that the time he gave to GOCOP, his friends and so many other people was also time that belonged to you,” he said.

Among those who attended the service were Enugu State Commissioner for Information and pioneer GOCOP president Malachy Agbo; immediate past GOCOP president Maureen Chigbo; former Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) president and former presidential spokesman Femi Adesina; former NGE president and former Osun State Commissioner for Information Funke Egbemode; former NGE president and Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Gbenga Adefaye; incumbent NGE president Eze Anaba; and Vice President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Fidelis Mba.

Iyanda said the Guild would continue to honour Oladipo’s memory through its commitment to the values and service he championed.

“We cannot replace him. We can only remember him and try to be there for others the way he was there for us.

“Dotun cared a lot. And he carried a lot. Sometimes too much.

“We will miss our President Emeritus terribly,” he said.