The Northern Media Forum (NMF) has mourned the passing of a co-founder of Newswatch magazine, Prince Dan Agbese, describing his death as a monumental loss to Nigerian journalism and the finest traditions of style, satire and elegance.
In a statement by its Assistant Secretary, Zainab Suleiman Okino, the forum said that the news of Agbese’s death sent shockwaves across newsrooms nationwide, silencing a voice that stood for courage, refinement and integrity for decades.
According to the statement, Agbese was more than a trailblazer. He was ‘a guardian of the media’s soul’. From his early days at the Nigerian Standard and New Nigerian to his iconic years at Newswatch, his works exemplified journalism as a calling — a moral covenant to inform, educate, and empower’.
NMF noted that Agbese’s pen ‘bled ink that illuminated corners of society too often shrouded in darkness’, adding that his words always carried the weight of conviction at a time the profession needed it most.
‘For years, he stood tall as an unflinching writer, editor and columnist, shaping opinions and inspiring generations of journalists with his fearless pursuit of truth and excellence’, the statement partly read.
Beyond his celebrated newsroom exploits, Agbese’s most enduring imprint, the forum said, was his leadership of the NMF, which he chaired until his death. Under his guidance, the forum became a platform for courageous journalism in the North and a vehicle for national discourse, cohesion and agenda-setting.
‘He believed deeply that a vibrant media community in the North should not only guide leadership, but also shape conversations that unite the country. He worked tirelessly to nurture the Forum into a hub for strategic and purposeful engagement’, the group recalled.
The statement described Agbese’s passing as an irreplaceable loss, not only to the media landscape but to the hearts of the countless journalists he mentored, colleagues who admired him, and communities he served with humility and wisdom.
‘In his passing, the North has lost a passionate advocate. The Nigerian media has lost an icon of style and substance, and all who knew him have lost a gentle soul who taught us the power of words written and spoken with depth and conviction’, the forum said.
It added that Agbese’s legacy would endure in the pages he shaped, the journalists he inspired, and in the mission of the forum, which will continue to reflect his vision.
