Tributes As Media Icon Yakubu Mohammed Passes On At 75

Tinubu, Governors, NPAN, Editors, others mourn Remains to be buried today in Kogi

Tributes poured in yesterday for veteran journalist and co-founder of the defunct Newswatch magazine, Yakubu Mohammed, who died in the early hours of Wednesday.

The celebrated journalist, author, columnist, and publisher died in a hospital in Lagos State after a brief illness at the age of 75.

His death came less than two months after the passing of another Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died on November 17, 2025.

The veteran journalist had launched his memoir, ‘Beyond Expectations’, on November 4, 2025.

He was reportedly battling a prolonged illness before his death. As of press time, no official statement from his family had been released.

A source close to the family confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the elder statesman died around 12am on Wednesday in the Lagos hospital.

The source also further said Mohammed’s corpse left Lagos yesterday for burial in his home state of Kogi by 10am today in accordance with Islamic rites.

Tinubu, Governors, NPAN, Editors, Others Mourn

President Bola Tinubu led the flow of tributes for the late elder statesman and veteran journalist.

Tinubu recalled that Mohammed, alongside the late Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese, and Ray Ekpu, founded Newswatch Magazine in 1984, marking the beginning of an era of fearless investigative journalism in Nigeria during the military era.

In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commiserated with the government and people of Kogi State, as well as the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association, and other media institutions, both public and private, where the late Mohammed had provided leadership.

Yakubu Mohammed served as pro-chancellor and chancellor of the Governing Council of Ahmadu Bello University. He was also Associate Editor of New Nigerian Newspapers (1976-1980), Deputy Editor and Editor of National Concord (1980-1984) before the founding of Newswatch.

On his part, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said the late veteran journalist was not only a pioneer of modern investigative journalism in Nigeria but also a proud son of Kogi State from the Dekina local government area, whose contributions to nation-building transcended the media space.

Also, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the death of the renowned journalist as a colossal loss to the media industry in Nigeria.

In his reaction, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described Mohammed’s death as a huge loss to the Nigerian media industry.

The leadership and members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) also expressed deep sadness over Mohammed’s death.

In a statement signed by the NPAN general secretary, Angela Emuwa, the proprietors extended their heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, his colleagues, friends, and the entire journalism community.

Reacting, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) expressed sadness over the passing of two distinguished and outstanding journalists, Messrs Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese.

His remains will be buried in Kogi State today.

Also, the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the founding Editor of Newswatch magazine, Mr Yakubu Mohammed.

In a condolence message, Senator Mark described the late Yakubu Mohammed as a distinguished journalist, a pioneering media professional and a courageous voice who contributed immensely to the growth and credibility of investigative journalism in Nigeria.

Life and Times

Born on April 4, 1950, Mohammed hailed from Ologba in the Dekina Local Government Area of present-day Kogi State.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in science and received his early education at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ayangba, in 1964, before attending Government Secondary School, Okene, from 1965 to 1969.

He later studied at the University of Lagos from 1972 to 1975 and at the Glasgow College of Technology in Scotland between 1978 and 1979.

Mohammed’s journalism career spanned decades. He served as associate editor at New Nigerian Newspapers from 1976 to 1980, became managing editor in 1980, and later worked as deputy editor at National Concord between 1980 and 1982.

He was the editor of National Concord from 1982 to 1984, before co-founding Newswatch magazine, where he served as executive editor from 1984 to 1986.

He later became the managing editor of Newswatch from 1986 to 1994 and subsequently served as the deputy chief executive officer of Newswatch Communications Limited from 1994.

Beyond journalism, Mohammed was a director at Yadara Nigeria Limited and Lastop Limited.

He was a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). He also served as pro-chancellor and chancellor of the governing council of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.