Veteran Nigerian Journalist and Diplomat Dele Cole Dies at 86

Ambassador Dele Cole, an accomplished Nigerian media executive, academic, and diplomat, has died at the age of 86. According to family sources reported by Daily Post Nigeria, Cole passed away on the morning of Saturday, October 17, 2026. The reports did not disclose an official cause of death.

Cole was widely recognized for his stewardship of the Daily Times during a formative era in Nigerian journalism, as well as his subsequent transitions into international diplomacy and statecraft.

Early Life and International Academic Career

Born on August 4, 1940, in Abonnema, located in the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, Cole pursued an extensive academic path across three continents. His foundational education began at St Bartholomew’s School in Enugu between 1946 and 1953, followed by secondary schooling at Baptist High School in Port Harcourt from 1954 to 1958, and Ibadan Grammar School from 1959 to 1960.

In 1962, he traveled abroad to attend the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, completing his undergraduate education in 1965. Cole then moved to the United Kingdom, studying at the University of Cambridge from 1966 to 1970, where he earned a doctorate in history. He maintained his ties with the university as a fellow at King’s College, Cambridge, from 1970 to 1973.

Stewardship in Media and the Daily Times

Returning to Nigeria with substantial academic credentials, Cole joined the media sector during a period of major national transformation. In 1975, he was appointed as a non-executive director of the Daily Times, which was then among Nigeria’s most influential newspaper organizations.

He subsequently rose to become the company’s managing director. During his tenure at the helm of the publication, Cole helped solidify the newspaper’s institutional stature and built a reputation as a prominent figure in the country’s print journalism landscape.

Diplomatic Engagements and Public Service

Cole’s career expanded beyond newsroom leadership into state affairs and foreign policy. During the 1990s, he participated in domestic politics through his involvement with the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

On the international stage, Cole served as Nigeria’s ambassador to both Argentina and Brazil, representing the country’s bilateral interests in South America. Following Nigeria’s transition to civilian governance in 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as Special Adviser on International Relations, a position Cole held through 2007.

Across more than five decades, Cole maintained a prominent presence in Nigerian public life, bridging the disciplines of historical research, mass communication, and international relations.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

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