VETERAN JOURNALIST AND NEWSWATCH CO-FOUNDER YAKUBU MOHAMMED DIES AT 75

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Yakubu Mohammed, co-founder of the now-defunct Newswatch magazine, has passed away at the age of 75.

His death comes less than two months after the passing of fellow Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died on November 17, 2025.

The veteran journalist had recently launched his memoir, Beyond Expectations, on November 4, 2025, and was said to have been battling a prolonged illness before his death. As of press time, the family was yet to issue an official statement.

Born on April 4, 1950, Mohammed hailed from Ologba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and received his early education at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ayangba, in 1964, and Government Secondary School, Okene, between 1965 and 1969.

He studied at the University of Lagos from 1972 to 1975 and later attended the Glasgow College of Technology in Scotland between 1978 and 1979.

Mohammed’s distinguished journalism career spanned several decades. He served as associate editor at New Nigerian Newspapers from 1976 to 1980, rising to managing editor in 1980. He later worked as deputy editor at National Concord between 1980 and 1982 and as editor from 1982 to 1984.

He became co-founder and executive editor of Newswatch from 1984 to 1986, managing editor from 1986 to 1994, and later deputy chief executive officer of Newswatch Communications Limited from 1994.

Beyond journalism, Mohammed was a director at Yadara Nigeria Limited and Lastop Limited. He was also a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

The late media icon also served as pro-chancellor and chancellor of the governing council of Ahmadu Bello University.