Yakubu Mohammed, a co-founder of the defunct Newswatch magazine, is dead. He was 75.
Mohammed died less than two months after the passing of another Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died on Nov. 17, 2025.
The veteran journalist had on Nov. 4, 2025, launched his memoir titled “Beyond Expectations.” He was reported to have battled a prolonged ailment before his death. As of press time, an official statement from the family was yet to be issued.
Born on April 4, 1950, Mohammed hailed from Ologba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi.
He attended St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ayangba, in 1964, Government Secondary School, Okene, between 1965 and 1969, the University of Lagos from 1972 to 1975, and the Glasgow College of Technology, Scotland, between 1978 and 1979. He held a Bachelor of Science degree.
Mohammed’s journalism career spanned several decades. He served as associate editor at New Nigerian Newspapers from 1976 to 1980 and later as managing editor in 1980.
He was deputy editor at National Concord between 1980 and 1982, editor of the newspaper from 1982 to 1984, and co-founder and executive editor of Newswatch from 1984 to 1986.
He later became managing editor of Newswatch from 1986 to 1994 and served as deputy chief executive officer of Newswatch Communications Limited from 1994.
Mohammed was also a director at Yadara Nigeria Limited and Lastop Limited.
He was a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The late journalist also served as pro-chancellor and chancellor of the governing council of Ahmadu Bello University.
