Tinubu Pays Tribute to Newswatch Co-founder Dan Agbese, Hails Legacy of Fearless Journalism

President Bola Tinubu has mourned veteran journalist and iconic Newswatch co-founder, Chief Dan Agbese, whose death marks what many have described as the end of an era in Nigeria’s media history.

Agbese, a celebrated editor, author and one of the country’s most influential prose stylists, died on Monday in Lagos at the age of 81. He was the Awan’Otun of Agila in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President said Nigeria has lost “a towering institution in journalism,” reflecting on Agbese’s decades-long influence on public discourse and press freedom.

Tinubu praised the late media icon for helping to redefine Nigerian journalism through Newswatch magazine—a publication widely credited with pioneering modern investigative and interpretative reporting in the country.

“Dan Agbese was not just a journalist; he was an institution,” the President said. “His pen shaped national conversations, strengthened democratic engagement, and inspired generations of media professionals. He served Nigeria with integrity, courage and an unwavering commitment to truth.”

The President extended condolences to Agbese’s family, colleagues and the wider media community, adding that his legacy would continue to guide practitioners navigating today’s complex media landscape.

Agbese, together with his Newswatch co-founders, transformed the newsroom tradition of the 1980s, challenging government excesses and setting ethical standards that remain benchmarks for journalists across the country.