Marking the end of a golden era for Nigerian media, Yakubu Mohammed—a founding father of investigative journalism and Co-founder of Newswatch magazine—has passed away at the age of 75.
Reports indicate that Mohammed had been battling a brief illness prior to his passing in Lagos. While tributes have already begun pouring in from national leaders, an official statement from his immediate family regarding funeral arrangements is still awaited.
His passing marks a somber bookend for the Newswatch era, coming less than two months after the death of his lifelong associate and fellow co-founder, Dan Agbese, who passed away on November 17, 2025. The loss of these two titans in such quick succession leaves a profound void in the heart of Nigeria’s media landscape.
However, as a final testament to his storied career, Mohammed released his memoir, Beyond Expectations, in October 2025. The book provides a definitive account of the Newswatch era, offering raw reflections on the magazine’s formative years, the traumatic 1986 assassination of founding editor-in-chief Dele Giwa, and the high-stakes power struggles that followed.
As a co-founder of Newswatch in 1984, Mohammed—together with Agbese, Ekpu, and Giwa—established a high watermark for investigative reporting under military rule. His departure represents a significant milestone in the fading of the magazine’s historic foundational era.
Kogi-born media icon Yakubu Mohammed (born on the 4th April, 1950) built his formidable intellectual toolkit across two continents. From his early schooling in Anyangba and Okene to advanced studies at the University of Lagos and Glasgow College of Technology, his education was the bedrock of his investigative prowess.
He launched his journalism career at New Nigerian Newspapers, rising to managing editor before transitioning to National Concord as editor. Ultimately, his path led him to reshape the industry as a co-founder of Newswatch.
Mohammed was a cornerstone of the Newswatch leadership team, Mohammed rose through the editorial ranks from executive editor to managing editor, eventually anchoring the company’s executive wing as deputy CEO.
In addition to his storied career in journalism, he served as a director for both Yadara Nigeria and Lastop Limited. A veteran member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, he also transitioned into academic governance, serving as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Ahmadu Bello University.
