Nigerian journalist and Eagle Online publisher Dotun Oladipo passes away at 56

Veteran Nigerian journalist and publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, has passed away at 56.

Mr Oladipo died on Tuesday, 25 August, after falling ill suddenly in his office in Lagos, as reported by The Eagle Online.

Details about his death were still coming out on Wednesday.

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) confirmed his death. He had previously served as the guild's president.

Danlami Nmodu, the current president of GOCOP, shared the news on the guild’s platform on Tuesday night, according to The Cable.

“It has just been confirmed that Emeritus President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, died today. May his soul rest in peace. Amen,” Mr Nmodu said.

Mr Oladipo founded The Eagle Online and was the chief executive officer of Premium Eagle Media Limited.

He was also the first president of the Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society (IMPCMS). This group was set up to encourage collaboration and professional growth among media workers.

Mr Oladipo built his career in both traditional and digital media in Nigeria.

He worked with major Nigerian newspapers like Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Compass, The Sun, and PUNCH Newspapers.

At PUNCH, he was the Politics Editor, which put him at the heart of the newspaper’s political coverage. A recent retrospective by PUNCH noted that he held this position during his time there.

Later, he ventured into digital publishing, launching The Eagle Online and taking on the roles of publisher and managing editor.

His professional profile highlighted him as an investigative journalist who focused on news, analysis, and detailed reporting. His work appeared in many Nigerian media outlets over a career that lasted almost 30 years.

The Eagle Online became his most lasting project, allowing him to mix his newsroom experience with the new opportunities in internet journalism.

The publication was still active on Tuesday, with stories about politics, business, crime, sports, and other topics published just before the news of its publisher’s death was announced.