By Olasunkanmi Akoni
Lagos State Governor, 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.
Sanwo-Olu condoled with the immediate and extended families of Oladipo, as well as the management and staff of Premium Eagle Media Limited, publishers of The Eagle Online, over the sudden death of the media executive.
The governor also commiserated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) over the loss of Oladipo, whom he described as a cerebral and prolific journalist.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, said Oladipo’s death was a rude shock to his family, friends, colleagues and associates, urging them to accept the incident as the will of God.
He said the death of Oladipo, a former President of GOCOP, was a significant loss to Nigeria’s media industry and the country at large.
“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.
“Dotun’s sudden death is shocking and painful, but we should find solace in the modest achievements of the late publisher. 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 said.
Sanwo-Olu described Oladipo as a dutiful husband and a good father who touched many lives through his profession.
“Dotun Oladipo led an exemplary life. He was a dutiful husband and a good father to his children. Most importantly, he touched countless lives through his profession as a journalist, rising to become Publisher, Managing Editor and Chief Executive Officer of a media organisation.
“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.
“I remember his presentation of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers’ case about three years ago. You can’t but listen to him,” he said.
The governor, on behalf of his family and the Lagos State Government, extended his sympathies to the Oladipo family, the media industry, friends, colleagues and journalists across the country.
“May God grant them the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss,” Sanwo-Olu added.
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