Veteran journalist, author, columnist and co-Founder of defunct Newswatch Magazine, Dan Ochima Agbese reputed for writing with a fascinating economy of words has died at 81 in Lagos, Nigeria.
His death on Monday, November 17, confirmed by family members and associates has attracted lots of tributes highlighting his outstanding accomplishments in his decades of media practice.
Born 72 years ago in Agila, Ador local government area of Benue State, according to a citation for his Lifetime achievement prize at the 25th DAME, he was educated at the Native Authority School, Otobi, 1957-1959; Government Teachers Training College, Keffi, 1960-1962.
He later studied Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Lagos, 1970-1973; Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, UK, 1976; and took a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University, New York; USA, 1976-1977.
After a short teaching career, he joined the New Nigerian newspapers as a Staff Writer, 1967-1970. He was chief sub-editor, The Nigerian Standard, Jos, 1974-1976; assistant editor, The Nigerian Standard, 1978-1980. He was appointed general manager, Radio Benue, Makurdi, 1980; special adviser and director of information, Benue State, 1980-1982; editor, New Nigerian, Kaduna, 1982-1984.
In 1984, he teamed up with his friends, Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu and Yakubu Muhammed to co-found Newswatch magazine, serving as the managing editor. He was elevated to the position of deputy editor-in-chief/deputy chief executive, Newswatch, Lagos, 1986-1994; editor-in-chief, Newswatch, 1994-2010. He became managing director, Newswatch Books Limited, May 2010, until he retired from Newswatch Communication Limited, on May 5, 2011, alongside other directors.
Agbese, is a past winner of the Pitman Prize Award, Columbia University and several other awards. In addition to contributing chapters to several books on Nigerian politics, he has also authored nine books:
- Newswatch Stylebook
Fellow Nigerians: Turning Points in the Political History of Nigeria, 1966 – 1999 - Nigeria, their Nigeria
- Babangida: Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria
- Style: A Guide to Good Writing,
- The Reporter’s Companion and
- The Columnist’s Companion: The Art and Craft of Column Writing
- The Energy Crises in Nigeria and
- In the Service of My Country: Selected Speeches of Abdullahi Adamu.
Until his death, Agbese worte a column in the Guardian newspapers and runs May Five Media, a media consultancy with Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Muhammed and Soji Akinrinade.
