President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of veteran journalist and publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, describing his passing at 56 as a major loss to Nigeria’s media industry and the country.
Oladipo, a former political editor at PUNCH Newspapers, died suddenly on Tuesday after a journalism career spanning nearly three decades.
In a condolence message issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commiserated with Oladipo’s family, colleagues and friends over his death.
The president said Oladipo made significant contributions to Nigerian journalism, particularly in political reporting and digital publishing.
According to Tinubu, the late journalist’s career reflected the important role of the media in strengthening democracy by keeping citizens informed, holding public officials accountable, and providing platforms for public discourse.
“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.
Oladipo worked with several Nigerian newspapers during his long career before founding The Eagle Online, where he continued his contribution to the country’s evolving digital media landscape.
Tinubu also acknowledged Oladipo’s role in the growth of online journalism, noting that his contributions to political journalism and the digital media industry would remain remembered.
The president extended his condolences to Oladipo’s family, colleagues in the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), and his friends.
He prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his loved ones the strength to cope with the loss.
“I pray that Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” Tinubu said.
