By Joy Yesufu
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced plans to institute an annual journalism prize in honour of its late former president, Dotun Oladipo.
The initiative was announced by the Deputy President of the Guild, Olumide Iyanda, on Thursday during a service of songs held in honour of Oladipo at Regal Hall, Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Lagos.
Iyanda, who spoke on behalf of the GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, the executive committee and members of the Guild, said the proposed prize would recognise excellence in online journalism while preserving the values Oladipo championed throughout his career.
“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 among the founding members of GOCOP and served as president of the Guild from 2017 to 2021.
He was the publisher of The Eagle Online until his death.
According to Iyanda, Oladipo remained actively involved in the affairs of the Guild even after completing his tenure as president.
At the time of his death, he was chairman of GOCOP’s Constitution Review Committee and was involved in preparations for 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 was due to assist a fellow member on the morning of his death.
“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.
Reflecting on Oladipo’s contribution to GOCOP, Iyanda said the late publisher played important roles in supporting members, resolving disputes and strengthening relationships within the Guild.
“He was a major artery of GOCOP. He was our dealmaker, our peacemaker and our joy giver,” he said.
Iyanda, on behalf of Nmodu, the executive committee and members of GOCOP, expressed condolences to Oladipo’s wife, Taiwo, his children and other members of the 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 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 GOCOP would continue to honour Oladipo’s memory by sustaining the values he brought to the Guild and his commitment to supporting fellow publishers and journalists.
“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.
