Nobody roughened me up. Nobody also robbed me. But death “did me bad.” It suddenly snatched Dotun Oladipo, managing editor and founder of The Eagle Online, one of the best and leaders in online journalism in our country and a former president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
To know Dotun is to know peace. To have Dotun in your team is also to have victory. Just share your feelings/thoughts/burdens with him and watch him carry them with smiles on his shoulder. And guess what: he won’t rest until victory is won.
I became fairly close to him after I joined GOCOP. And till death came calling on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in a very, very shocking manner, “he carried my matter on his head.”
He did quite a lot, but I will share just one experience – and this happened at the Zenith Bank branch in Ogba, Lagos about a month ago. I had an issue to resolve inside the bank, and because his office wasn’t too far away, I called him to ask if he could be of assistance. He explained that he was at home, fairly far away from where I was. I terminated the call. But he called back immediately, asking me to calm down and explain what happened to him. When I finished, he asked me to wait for him at the bank. Meanwhile he had inadvertently allowed it to slip that he was getting ready for an appointment on the island when my unexpected call altered his program.
Long story short – he made it to the bank ultimately and in a jiffy helped to sort out the issue before heading to his appointment. As minor as this may seem to some people, it taught me another lesson in selflessness, which Dotun epitomized all through his life.
I saw him last on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Both of us were there for the second edition of my friend, Olumide Iyanda’s Creative Powerhouse Summit. As soon as I sighted the workaholic hitting hard on his laptop, tucked in a corner of the hall, to avoid any form of distraction, I went for the exchange of our always-warm pleasantries.
I have been reminiscing on that short memory ever since the unpleasant news of his death reached me. And even as I cried in my bed last night; and after visiting his home very early today to condole with his wife and children. I will continue to hold on to that memory of him.
Fondly called Emeritus by many of us, especially in GOCOP, Dotun was loved by many. My prayer is that the Lord rests his gentle soul. But above all, may God comfort his wife, children and loved ones, especially his mom who will definitely be devastated by his passing.
Adieu, Emeritus!
Adieu, Ochiliozuo of GOCOP!
Till we meet to part no more.
*Azuh Arinze, FNGE, is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and author of important books like The CEO’s Book 1&2, Anything and Everything Journalism, Success Is Not Served A La Carte, My Story of Many Colours, etc
