President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed profound grief over the passing of Chief Dan Agbese, a veteran journalist, prose stylist, author, and co-founder of the iconic Newswatch weekly magazine.
Agbese, who held the traditional title of Awan’Otun of Agila town in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, died on Monday in Lagos at the age of 81.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the President described Agbese’s death as “painful and a profound loss to Nigeria’s media industry and the country as a whole.”
The statement reads partly: “Dan Agbese was not just a journalist; he was an institution. His pen shaped public opinion, strengthened democratic discourse, and inspired a generation of media practitioners. He served Nigeria with integrity, courage, and commitment to truth and justice. His contribution to the evolution of the modern Nigerian press will be remembered forever. I join his family, particularly his wife, children, and the entire media community, in mourning. May his legacy continue to guide the noble calling of journalism in our nation.”
President Tinubu further lauded Agbese and his colleagues at Newswatch for pioneering investigative and interpretative journalism in Nigeria, noting that their work transformed media practice and set new standards for ethical, courageous reporting.
Agbese’s passing marks the loss of a journalist who not only chronicled Nigeria’s history but also inspired a generation of reporters and editors to pursue truth with unwavering integrity.
