Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed grief over the death of the Publisher of The Eagle Online, Mr. Dotun Oladipo, describing his passing as shocking, painful and heartbreaking.
Oladipo, who was the immediate past President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), was also the Managing Editor and Chief Executive Officer of Premium Eagle Media Limited, publishers of The Eagle Online.
Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, commiserated with the Oladipo family, management and staff of Premium Eagle Media Limited, as well as the wider media community.
The governor also condoled with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), GOCOP and the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) over the death of the journalist, whom he described as a cerebral and prolific writer.
Sanwo-Olu said Oladipo’s death was a significant loss to Nigeria’s media industry, noting that the late journalist made notable contributions to the growth of journalism, particularly online journalism.
He said: “The death of one of Nigeria’s prolific journalists, writers and media entrepreneurs, Mr. Dotun Oladipo, is a significant loss to the media industry and Nigeria, as well as his family and friends. He will be sorely missed.
“He made numerous positive impacts in his lifetime, contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of journalism, especially with his pioneering work in online journalism in Nigeria.”
The governor described Oladipo as an exemplary family man who touched many lives through his profession and rose through the ranks to become a publisher and chief executive of a media organisation.
Recalling his personal encounters with the deceased during media engagements, Sanwo-Olu described Oladipo as brilliant, calm and professional.
“I have met Dotun personally during some of my media interactions with journalists. He was brilliant, calm and always presented his case in a very interesting and professional manner,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu urged the bereaved family, friends and colleagues to take solace in the achievements and positive impact of the deceased, stressing that what matters ultimately is the depth and impact of a person’s life.
He said, “Death is inevitable, as we all will die. Our purpose in life is not to live forever, but to create something that will outlive us, bearing in mind that it is not the length of life that matters, but the depth of life.”
The governor prayed God to grant the Oladipo family, friends and members of the media community the strength to bear the loss.
