18th November 2025
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has described the death of veteran journalist and Newswatch co-founder, Chief Dan Agbese, as a major blow to the nation’s media community and the country’s democratic development.
The Senate President said this in a condolence message issued on Tuesday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh.
His tribute followed confirmation by the Agbese family on Monday that the celebrated columnist and editor died at 81 in Benue State.
Akpabio described the late Agbese as “a monumental loss to Nigeria’s journalism family and to all who value truth, integrity, and courageous storytelling.”
The statement partly read, “I deeply mourn the loss of Chief Dan Agbese — a distinguished journalist who devoted his life to the pursuit of truth, accountability, and press freedom.
“His writings shaped national conscience, challenged power, and illuminated the path of democracy. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of journalists yet unborn.”
Akpabio also extended condolences to the Agbese family, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
Agbese was one of Nigeria’s most influential editors and a founding partner of Newswatch magazine alongside Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, and Yakubu Mohammed in 1984.
The magazine became a watershed in investigative journalism and set new benchmarks for accountability reporting.
Until April 2010, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the publication, after earlier stints as Managing Editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
He later wrote widely read opinion columns in Daily Trust and The Guardian, while co-running a media consultancy with Ekpu, Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade.
He is survived by his wife, Chief Rose Agbese, six children and seven grandchildren.
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