Nigeria has lost one of its distinguished media and diplomatic figures as veteran journalist and former diplomat, Ambassador Dele Cole, has died at the age of 86.
Family sources confirmed that the respected statesman passed away on Saturday morning, bringing to an end a remarkable career that spanned journalism, academia, diplomacy, public service, and politics.
Ambassador Cole was widely known for his contributions to Nigeria’s media industry, having served as the Managing Director of the Daily Times, one of the country’s most influential newspapers. His leadership in the media sector earned him national recognition and paved the way for his appointment as Nigeria’s ambassador to Brazil and Argentina, where he represented the country’s interests with distinction.
Born on August 4, 1940, in Abonnema, Kalabari Kingdom, in present-day Rivers State, Cole began his educational journey at St. Bartholomew’s School, Enugu, where he studied from 1946 to 1953. He later attended Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, between 1954 and 1958, before completing his secondary education at Ibadan Grammar School from 1959 to 1960.
Driven by a passion for scholarship, he proceeded abroad in 1962 to study at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. After graduating, he continued his academic pursuits at the University of Cambridge between 1966 and 1970, and later became a Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, serving in that capacity from 1970 to 1973 while earning a doctorate in History.
In 1975, Cole joined the board of Daily Times as a non-executive director, marking the beginning of a distinguished career in journalism and media management that would later see him rise to the position of Managing Director.
Beyond journalism, he played significant roles in public service. Between 1999 and 2007, he served as Special Adviser on International Relations to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, contributing to Nigeria’s foreign policy engagements and international relations. He subsequently served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Brazil and Argentina.
Cole was also actively involved in politics. During Nigeria’s Third Republic, he was associated with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and remained a respected voice in national discourse for decades.
His death marks the passing of an accomplished intellectual, diplomat, media executive, and public servant whose contributions left an enduring imprint on Nigeria’s political, diplomatic, and media landscape.
He is survived by family members, associates, and admirers who remember him for his intellect, statesmanship, and dedication to national development.
