On Friday, Doyin Okupe’s demise made news headlines following his battle with prostate cancer.
While uncertainty still surrounds his passing, it is imperative to shed light on things that the public may not have known about the famous political figure.
1. Background
Doyin Okupe was born on March 22, 1952, into a family of seven children: four brothers (Kunle Okupe, Owo Okupe, Wemi Okupe and Larry Okupe) and two sisters ( Aina Okanlawon and Bisola Ayeni).
2. Education
The late Okupe attended St. Jude’s School in Ebute Metta, Lagos Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos and the University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Oyo State. He graduated with a degree in Medicine.
3. Foray into media
Being a medical doctor, Okupe used his professional knowledge in his foray into the media industry as he was once a publisher of Life Mirror, a health newspaper.
4. Medical practice
Okupe worked at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos and went on to establish the Royal Cross Medical Centre (also known as Royal Cross Hospital) in Obalende, Lagos, alongside his colleagues Seyi Roberts and Ladi Okuboyejo.
5. Political career
Doyin Okupe was a House of Representatives candidate of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the 1983 Nigerian parliamentary election.
He was detained by the General Abacha military government on October 3, 1996.
Okupe left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in July 2017 and revealed his decision to join the Accord Party.
He returned to the former party in September 2018 after being expelled for accepting the position of Chairman of the Campaign Media Council of Bukola Saraki for the 2019 presidential primaries of the PDP.
Okupe became a member of the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 general elections and was a running mate and vice-presidential candidate of the party until a substantive candidate was chosen.
6. Cancer diagnosis
In October 2023, Okupe was hospitalised after his cancer diagnosis was made public. Per online reports, he was first diagnosed with the ailment in 2009.
It was also revealed that he had developed sarcoma in his right shoulder.