Family members, friends and colleagues gathered to pay tribute to The Eagle Online publisher, Oladotun Oladipo, at his service of songs held at Daystar Christian Centre Headquarters, Oregun, Lagos.
The event took place at the Regal Hall of the church on Thursday and featured hymns, Bible readings and tributes from those who knew the late publisher.
Oladipo’s wife, Taiwo, and their daughters were also present at the service as they mourned the late publisher.
QEDNG publisher Olumide Iyanda reflected on Oladipo’s contributions to the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, where he served as president from 2017 to 2021.
“Dotun was a founding member of GOCOP. He was also our president from 2017 to 2021. He our deal maker, he was our peacemaker, he was our joy giver.
He said, “We also celebrate him because the Dotun we know is the guy that was there for everybody. If something matter to you, Dotun will come. And Dotun will not come empty handed. Dotun was my guy. On the day that Dotun died, he was in the gym when I spoke to him. A conversation that was supposed to be for two minutes ended for 20 minutes. I didn’t know that was the last time he was going to speak to me. He told me that one of the reasons he was waiting for me was because he wanted to sign a letter for one of our members. That was one of the reasons. He never got to sign that letter.”
Former Ovation editor and Senior Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Michael Effiong, also reflected on the impact of Oladipo’s death while recalling the loss of his own wife.
He said, “It is still surreal, putting things together when my wife passed. So you can imagine the emotions for the Oladipo family and my family. It’s a personal loss. You know, he was a pillar. He was a very, very, very dependable person. I call him—I funny call him President, you know, because at the time he was president of GOCOP, I was also president of the Rotary Club of Ikeja South. So we used to banter about which president is more powerful than the other. But Dotun was a wonderful, wonderful man. We’ll miss him, but I know he’s in a better place. For Taiwo and the princesses, I can only say that God only. It’s only God that can strengthen you.”
Others present included Enugu State commissioner for information and pioneer GOCOP president Malachy Agbo, immediate past GOCOP president Maureen Chigbo, former NGE president and 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 and incumbent NGE president Eze Anaba.
Oladipo died on August 25, at the age of 56. He was a founding member of GOCOP and served as president of the guild from 2017 to 2021.
He was also the publisher of The Eagle Online, a position he held until his death.
Oladipo is scheduled to be buried on Friday, September 11, following a funeral service at Daystar Christian Centre Headquarters in Oregun, Lagos. Culled from OEDNG