JUST-IN: Newswatch Co-Founder, Dan Agbese, Dies At 81

A veteran journalist and co-founder of the iconic Newswatch magazine, Dan Agbese, has died.

Family sources said he passed away in Lagos on Saturday, November 16, at the age of 81.

Agbese was one of the quartet that founded the groundbreaking news magazine alongside Dele Giwa, who was assassinated by a parcel bomb in 1986, Ray Ekpu, and Yakubu Mohammed.

He served as the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief until April 2010.

A distinguished media professional, Agbese held degrees in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Lagos and Columbia University, New York.

Over the course of his career, he served as editor of The Nigeria Standard in Jos, New Nigerian in Kaduna, and later as General Manager of Radio Benue.

He was also a prolific author, with several acclaimed works to his credit, including ‘Nigeria Their Nigeria’, ‘Fellow Nigerians’, ‘The Reporter’s Companion, Style: A Guide to Good Writing’, and ‘The Columnist’s Companion: The Art and Craft of Column Writing’.

Until his death, Agbese remained a highly respected newspaper columnist and one of Nigeria’s most influential voices in journalism.