GOCOP Establishes Online Journalism Award to Immortalise Dotun Oladipo
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced plans to establish the Dotun Oladipo Prize for Online Journalism in honour of its late former president and publisher of The Eagle Online.
GOCOP Deputy President, Olumide Iyanda, disclosed this on Thursday at a service of songs held in honour of Oladipo at Regal Hall, Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Lagos.
Iyanda, who spoke on behalf of GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, mni, the Executive Committee and members of the Guild, said the proposed prize would recognise excellence in online journalism while preserving the values Oladipo represented 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 a founding member of GOCOP and served as president of the Guild from 2017 to 2021. He remained actively involved in the affairs of the organisation after leaving office and continued to support members.
At the time of his death, he was chairman of the GOCOP Constitution Review Committee and was involved in preparations for the Guild’s annual conference scheduled for October, including arrangements for accommodation for members travelling from outside Lagos.
“That was Dotun for you. He could be involved in the big decisions and still worry about where a colleague would sleep,” Iyanda said.
Read Also:
He also recalled that Oladipo had planned to visit his office on the morning of his death, partly to sign a guarantor’s form for a GOCOP member travelling abroad, but died before he could do so.
“Even on his last day, Dotun was thinking about what he could do for somebody else,” Iyanda said.
Describing the deceased as a central figure in the Guild, Iyanda said Oladipo played several roles in supporting members, resolving disputes and strengthening relationships within the organisation.
“He was a major artery of GOCOP. He was our dealmaker, our peacemaker and our joy giver,” he said.
Iyanda expressed the Guild’s condolences to Oladipo’s wife, Taiwo, his children and other members of the family, acknowledging the sacrifices they made in sharing his time and attention with GOCOP and the wider journalism community.
“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 (NGE) 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, Nigeria, Fidelis Mba.
Iyanda said GOCOP would continue to honour Oladipo’s contributions to the Guild and 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.A sharper alternative headline is: GOCOP names online journalism prize after late president Dotun Oladipo.
By PRNigeria
