Another co-founder of Newswatch magazine, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed, has died, less than two months after the death of fellow co-founder Dan Agbese.
Mohammed’s death was confirmed by veteran journalist and online publisher, Muyiwa Akintunde, on Facebook on Wednesday morning, January 14, 2026. He was said to have been ill for some time. An official statement from his family was still being awaited as of press time.
His passing comes shortly after the death of Agbese, who died on November 17, 2025, marking a difficult period for the founding generation of the influential news magazine.
Born on April 4, 1950, Mohammed hailed from Ologba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. He held a Bachelor of Science degree and built a distinguished career in journalism spanning several decades.
He attended St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ayangba (1964); Government Secondary School, Okene (1965–1969); the University of Lagos (1972–1975); and the Glasgow College of Technology, Scotland (1978–1979).
Mohammed began his journalism career at New Nigerian Newspapers, where he served as Associate Editor from 1976 to 1980 and later as Managing Editor in 1980. He moved to National Concord, serving as Deputy Editor from 1980 to 1982 and Editor from 1982 to 1984.
He was a co-founder and Executive Editor of Newswatch magazine from 1984 to 1986, later becoming Managing Editor from 1986 to 1994. From 1994, he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Newswatch Communications Limited.
Beyond journalism, Mohammed was a director at Yadara Nigeria Limited and Lastop Limited. He was a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association (CJA), and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
In November 2025, barely weeks before his death, Mohammed launched his memoir titled “Beyond Expectations.”
His hobbies included playing tennis, dancing, listening to music and watching movies.
Further details, including funeral arrangements, are expected from the family.
