10 Key Things to Know About Late Doyin Okupe
A former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Doyin Okupe, passed away on March 7, 2025, at the age of 72.
He was a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and served as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign.
Below are ten key highlights of his life and career:
1. Educational Background: Okupe attended St. Jude’s School in Ebute Metta, Lagos, and Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos. He pursued higher education at the University of Ibadan, earning a degree in Medicine and Surgery.
2. Medical Career: After his studies, he worked in both government and private hospitals, including St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos. He co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre in Obalende, Lagos, serving as its Managing Director.
3. Early Political Involvement: During Nigeria’s Second Republic, Okupe was a House of Representatives candidate for the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the 1983 elections.
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4. Role in NRC: In the Third Republic, he became the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC), actively participating in the political landscape of that era.
5. Detention During Military Regime: Okupe was detained on October 3, 1996, under General Sani Abacha’s military government. In March 1998, he was disqualified from participating in the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries during Abacha’s transition program.
6. Service Under President Obasanjo: With the onset of the Fourth Republic, Okupe was appointed Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo, playing a significant role in the administration’s communication strategies.
7. Adviser to President Jonathan: In 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Okupe as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, further cementing his influence in Nigerian politics.
8. Political Aspirations: Okupe was a governorship aspirant in Ogun State under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2002, showcasing his ambition for higher political office.
9. Recent Political Engagements: Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Okupe joined the Labour Party and temporarily stood in as the vice-presidential candidate until a substantive candidate was chosen.
10. Personal Life: Okupe is married to Aduralere Okupe, and they have children together. Notably, his son, Bolu Okupe, publicly came out as gay in January 2021, a revelation that garnered significant media attention.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
