Opinion
By: Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim
THE true quality of a leader reflects on the standard they set for themselves and their followers – Ray Kroc
“An Adage from my village says ”Asesile nla bowaba” meaning “good deeds begot favour” and probably that is what we are all enjoying today in the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, family and The Eagle Online, where Dotun Oladipo is the Publisher; having shown and exhibited leadership both in season and out of season.
It will be recalled that Maureen Chigbo, Publisher of Realnews Magazine Online, who is the President of GOCOP took over the office from Oladipupo of the EagleOnline, who led the Guild successfully from 2018 till 2021.
I recalled that Dotun took over from Musikilu Mojeed of the Premium Times, who is the current President of the International Press Institute, IPI, while Mojeed took the mantle from the pioneer GOCOP President, Malachi Agbo, of The Citizen News, who is serving presently as the Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication under Governor Emeka Mbah of Enugu State.
Presently, GOCOP has over 119 online professional publishers, who have excelled in their past field as journalists and editors before establishing their own online platforms.
The purpose of establishing the Guild is to ensure that members uphold the tenets of online journalism.
It will be recalled that the reliable and respected GOCOP of today started from Oladipo’s office in Ogba, Lagos, and eventually became the registered address of GOCOP.
Oladipo is also a team builder, a successful career counselor and foremost touch bearer of digital journalism in Nigeria.
For instance, during one of the lectures he delivered at the GOCOP 6th Annual conference at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, he shared insights with the members on how to spread their ‘site wings.’
No doubt, Oladipo is one of the few GOCOP members who has a verified Google adsense website and another 2 Google accredited YouTube Channel, which are EagleOnline TV and Pop News with its trending regular ‘Erotic Monday night with Tiwa.’
Oladipo did not just find himself at the top of affairs of the Guild, he has really paid his dues and that is why many would attest that he also served as the chief scribe of the Guild during Musikilu Mojeed tenure. His excellent performance then made all members of the Guild to vote him in to continue to steer the wheel of the association.
Many will be asking where I came up with the name Dotun (Mr. Magic) Mr. Magic was not fabricated by the writer, but was given to him publicly on the GOCOP Loop when Olumide Iyanda of QEDNG commended him for the great role he played during the successful outcome of the Kogi Conference.
Oladipo, a handsome, ebony, huge, clean shaved father of three is no doubt a silent achiever, an orator with clear and loud voice is a leader, with open door policy to his media colleagues and anybody who comes his way.
Recently, Oladipo was elected as the President of Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society, IMPCMS, which beckons on him to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the group.
Dotun Oladipo is an enigma that whenever he talks everybody cares to listen, he is a cynosure of all eyes on every occasion, he is truly a prince of hope many would want to associate with due to his humility and ability to serve humanity.
Even the Writer of this piece Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim of August24news.com joined GOCOP and was inducted during Oladipo’s tenure as president.
Having said all this, kindly join me to celebrate a senior colleague, a mentor, a professional media icon, a strategist, as every 19th day of December remains your day sir, Dotun Oladipo aka Mr. Magic.
Felicitating with Dotun is his predecessor and Editor of Premium Times, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed “I have always known you to be a loving, hardworking and resilient person who is ever focused on achieving desirable results in everything. As you add another year today, I pray that God in his infinite mercy guides and elevates you to a greater height and makes you someone that successful people will always be eager to associate with.
On the heels of celebrating Dotun 55th Birthday, more than 200 publishers across the globe both from GOCOP, NUJ, NGE, IMPCMS and beyond sent congratulatory messages to him on different notes which cannot be published on this edition alone.
First on the list is Dotun’s successor, the incumbent President of GOCOP and publisher of of Realnews magazine Online,Maureen Chigbo, who said Oladipo is just a gift to GOCOP and the Nigerian media.
Second is the Publisher of Freedom Online, Gabriel Akindewon, who described Dotun as a phenomenon in the journalism world, an achiever, whose footprints in the digital media space and GOCOP cannot be erased.
Remmy Nweke, the publisher of ITREALMS said: “Dotun is a silent achiever, a complete gentleman and one whose open arms have forged friendship across the industry and the nation.”
Tajudeen Kareem, who publishes Credible News, said: “Dotun is a compassionate fellow who sees GOCOP as a Nigerian project that must succeed and its currently succeeding.”
Hassan Gimba, the publisher of Neptune online, described Dotun as a cool headed colleague, a great supporter of his platform, who helps to publish his Weekly editorial feature since inception.
Speaking from another angle is one of the oldest publishers in GOCOP and Publisher of Greenbarge Report, Yussuf Ozi-Usman, who described DOTUN in an acronym, viz “D stands for Dogged, O represents Originality, T for Talent, while U goes for Uplifting and N connotes Navigating.”
“Dotun Oladipo showcases a remarkable set of qualities, values, and traits that embody exceptional leadership and character. These are words that align with the qualities of *DOTUN,” says Ozi-Usman
In his own remarks, Tunde Abatan, the Publisher of Newdawnngr.com described him as a humble, selfless and devoted colleague, who is always ready to offer his service to all.
Crowning the birthday messages is the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement available to August24news.com, said: Dotun unwavering contributions to online journalism in the country cannot be forgotten.
On behalf of myself, my loving and dashing wife, my resourceful children and the entire management of August24news.com and its sisters YouTube Channel August24news TV, we are all very proud to join millions of Nigerians to celebrate and congratulate your humble personality as you just add another feather to your wing today sir.
Ajagbe is the Publisher of August24news.com, a Senior Special Assistant to Lagos Island East Council Chairman on Media and Digital Communications and a bonafide member of GOCOP and writes from Lagos.
A.I
Dec. 20, 2024
Tags: Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim Dotun Oladipo Eagle Online Musikilu Mojeed
