Newswatch Co-Founder Yakubu Mohammed Dies at 75

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has confirmed the death of elder statesman and co-founder of Newswatch Magazine, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed. He died late Tuesday night in Lagos after a brief illness. He was 75.

Mohammed, who hailed from Ologba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, was born on April 4, 1950. His passing comes barely two months after the death of fellow Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died on November 17, 2025, at the age of 81.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Ismaila Isah, Governor Ododo expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and the Nigerian Union of Journalists. He described Mohammed as a pioneer of modern investigative journalism in Nigeria and a proud son of Kogi State whose contributions to nation-building went beyond the media.

The governor said the late journalist belonged to a rare generation that redefined courage, professionalism and integrity in Nigerian journalism, noting that his influence helped shape public discourse and strengthen accountability in the country’s democratic journey.

Governor Ododo recalled Mohammed’s role in the establishment of Newswatch Magazine in the mid-1980s alongside Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu and Dan Agbese, describing it as a major turning point in Nigeria’s media history. He added that Mohammed’s commitment to investigative reporting and editorial independence remains one of his most enduring legacies.

The governor also acknowledged Mohammed’s record of public service, including his tenure as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as his contributions to the development of Kogi State. He described him as a bridge-builder, mentor and a strong voice of conscience in national affairs.

Governor Ododo prayed that Almighty Allah grant the departed soul eternal rest and comfort his family and all those mourning his loss.

Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed co-founded Newswatch Magazine in 1984, which became a leading platform for investigative journalism during Nigeria’s military era. A seasoned journalist, writer, editor and administrator, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos in 1975 and later obtained a postgraduate diploma in management and public administration from the Glasgow College of Technology, Scotland, in 1979.

He served in various editorial roles at New Nigerian and National Concord newspapers before resigning in 1984 to co-found Newswatch, where he worked in several editorial and administrative capacities for nearly three decades. He also served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, between 2005 and 2007.