Former presidential spokesperson, Adedoyin Ajibike Okupe, passed away on Friday at the age of 72.

Okupe served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.

In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at key facts you should know about the late Okupe.

Doyin Okupe was born on 22 March 1952 in Iperu, Ogun State, Nigeria. He was the son of Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe, a banker at Agbonmagbe Bank. He had several siblings, including his brothers Kunle, Owo, Wemi, and Larry Okupe, as well as his sisters Aina Okanlawon and Bisola Ayeni.

Okupe received his early education at St. Jude’s School in Ebute Metta, Lagos, before attending Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos. He later pursued higher education at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State.

A trained physician and politician, Okupe co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre. He also ventured into media as the publisher of Life Mirror, a health-focused newspaper.

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On 3 October 1996, Okupe was detained by the military government of General Sani Abacha. In March 1998, during Abacha’s failed transition programme, he was among the politicians disqualified from participating in the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries.

He was appointed Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign but resigned after being convicted of money laundering.

Okupe was married to Aduralere Okupe, and they had two children together.

He passed away on 7 March 2025 at the age of 72.

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