The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers has announced plans to establish the Dotun Oladipo Prize for Online Journalism in honour of its late former president.
GOCOP Deputy President, Olumide Iyanda, disclosed this on Thursday during a service of songs for Oladipo at Regal Hall, Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Lagos.
Iyanda said the proposed prize would recognise outstanding online journalism in Nigeria and preserve the values Oladipo demonstrated as a journalist, publisher and leader.
“I therefore wish to announce, on behalf of our President, the Executive Committee and the entire membership of GOCOP, our intention to institute the Dotun Oladipo Prize for Online Journalism.
“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, who died on August 25 at the age of 56, was a founding member of GOCOP and served as its president from 2017 to 2021. He was also the publisher of The Eagle Online until his death.
According to Iyanda, Oladipo remained actively involved in the affairs of the Guild after leaving office as president.
He was chairman of GOCOP’s Constitution Review Committee at the time of his death and was also involved in arrangements for members travelling from outside Lagos to attend the Guild’s annual conference scheduled for October.
“At the time he died, he was Chairman of the GOCOP Constitution Review Committee and was arranging accommodation for members coming from outside Lagos for our annual conference in 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 abroad 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.
Iyanda described Oladipo as a central figure in the Guild who helped members, mediated disputes and contributed to the growth of the organisation.
“He was a major artery of GOCOP. He was our dealmaker, our peacemaker and our joy giver,” he said.
He conveyed the condolences of GOCOP President Danlami Nmodu, the executive committee and members of the Guild to Oladipo’s wife, Taiwo, their children and the wider 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,” Iyanda said.
The service was attended by Enugu State Commissioner for Information and pioneer GOCOP president, Malachy Agbo; immediate past GOCOP president, Maureen Chigbo; former Nigerian Guild of Editors president and former presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina; former NGE president and ex-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 GOCOP would continue to honour Oladipo’s contributions and emulate his commitment to supporting colleagues.
“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.
