Dan Agbese, co-founder of Nigeria’s trailblazing Newswatch magazine and one of the country’s most influential journalists, has died in Lagos at age 81.
Dan Agbese, one of Nigeria’s most respected journalists and a co-founder of the influential Newswatch magazine, has died at the age of 81. Family members confirmed that he passed away on the morning of Monday November 17, 2025, in Lagos, marking the end of a storied career that helped shape modern Nigerian journalism.
Agbese emerged as a central figure in the country’s media landscape during a period when independent reporting was often fraught with political pressure and risks. Alongside his colleagues, he helped build Newswatch into one of Nigeria’s most authoritative weekly publications, known for its investigative depth, bold commentary and groundbreaking political coverage.
His legacy is closely tied to the magazine’s early years and the tragic death of its co-founder, Dele Giwa, who was killed by a parcel bomb in 1986. Giwa’s assassination—still unresolved decades later—shocked the nation and became one of the most infamous political killings in Nigeria’s history. Though never officially proven, public debate has long linked the attack to the military regime of the era. Agbese remained a steadfast advocate for press freedom in the years that followed, navigating a challenging environment while keeping Newswatch at the forefront of national discourse.
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Born in 1943, Agbese’s academic path reflected his commitment to journalism as both a craft and a discipline. He earned degrees in mass communication and journalism from the University of Lagos and Columbia University in New York—credentials that set him apart among his peers and informed his meticulous approach to reporting and writing.
His career spanned several major Nigerian media institutions. He served as editor of The Nigeria Standard, worked at the New Nigerian, and later became general manager of Radio Benue. Yet it was at Newswatch that he left his most enduring imprint, eventually becoming Editor-in-Chief, a position he held until 2010.
Agbese was also a prolific author and columnist. His books—including Nigeria Their Nigeria, Fellow Nigerians, The Reporter’s Companion, and The Columnist’s Companion—remain essential texts for journalists, students and readers interested in the evolution of Nigeria’s media and political landscape. His widely read columns further cemented his reputation for clarity, insight and an unwavering commitment to national reflection.
Tributes are expected to pour in from across Nigeria’s media, political and academic communities as the country reflects on the contributions of a man who helped define an era of courageous, principled journalism.
