Newswatch Co-Founder Dan Agbese Dies at 81

Veteran journalist and co-founder of Newswatch magazine, Dan Agbese, has died at the age of 81.

Family sources confirmed that the celebrated columnist passed away on Monday

morning, November 17, 2025, in Lagos. A formal statement from the Agbese family of the Ikpilogwu clan, Agila district in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, described him as a “husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and mentor,” noting that burial arrangements will be announced later.

Agbese, born May 12, 1944, was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential journalists, known for his crisp writing style, pointed satire and decades-long contribution to public commentary. He was a central figure in the evolution of modern investigative journalism and political analysis in the country.

Before co-founding Newswatch in 1984 alongside Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu and Yakubu Mohammed, Agbese served as editor of The Nigeria Standard, New Nigerian, and later as General Manager of Radio Benue. He remained Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch until 2010.

A graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, he also earned a journalism degree from Columbia University, New York. Agbese authored several influential books, including Nigeria Their Nigeria, Fellow Nigerians, The Reporter’s Companion, Style: A Guide to Good Writing, and The Columnist’s Companion.

Widely admired for his sharp prose and strong editorial principles, Agbese leaves behind a legacy that shaped generations of Nigerian journalists and defined a significant era in the nation’s media history.