Patrick Dele Cole, Nigerian journalist and diplomat, dies at 86

Patrick Dele Cole, a prominent Nigerian journalist, diplomat, and statesman, has died in London at the age of 86. Born in Abonnema, Rivers State, Cole was a distinguished scholar who studied at the University of Otago in New Zealand and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where he earned a doctorate.

Cole is widely recognized for his transformative impact on the Nigerian media landscape. As the Managing Director of Daily Times in the 1970s, he introduced an American-style editorial board, shifting the publication from a British orientation toward a more robust liberal tradition. During his tenure, he recruited influential journalists such as Dele Giwa and Dr. Stanley Macebuh to strengthen the newspaper’s intellectual character.

Beyond journalism, Cole served as a diplomat, representing Nigeria as an ambassador to Brazil and Argentina. He also provided counsel on international relations to President Olusegun Obasanjo and held various roles as a technocrat and public servant under both military and civilian administrations.