Newswatch magazine’s founding director and editor, Mr. Dan Agbese, celebrates his 75th birthday today, being Monday, 20th May, 2019. He even got a presidential best wishes from President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of his special day.

The Nigerian president congratulated the media titan Mr. Agbese yesterday for decades of patriotism, resilience and consistency in his delivery of unbiased journalism.

President Buhari, released a congratulatory statement via his media adviser, Femi Adesina. He praised the media mogul for his deep passion for investigative and analytical journalism, as well as for his books and columns, as he treats national issues. Agbese was commended by the president for sacrificing his talent and time in pursuing a better future for Nigeria.

Adesina said:

The President believes the veteran journalist made sacrifices for Nigeria’s return to democracy and strengthening of democratic institutions that must be acknowledged, and which will remain indelible in the sands of time.

President Buhari extols his virtues of humility, discipline, focus and exceptional brilliance that have contributed to the dynamism and vibrancy of the Nigerian media industry.

The President prays that God will grant Agbese longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the country through his profession.

The journalism career of Mr. Dan Ochima Agbese began at the New Nigerian newspaper in 1976, where he rose to become its editor. He later on became the editor of the Nigerian Standard newspaper.

Born in Agilla, Benue state on 20th May, 1944, Agbese attended the Native Authority School in Otobi, Government Teachers Training College, Keffi. After his education, he worked as a school teacher and library assistant. Moreover, he worked at the Nigerian Standard, which the Plateau State government owned. in between that period, he studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos.

He bagged a diploma in journalism in 1976 from Columbia University, which also awarded him the John Taylor prize.

In 1985, Agbese, together with Ray Ekpu, Dele Giwa, and Yakubu Mohammed, founded the now-defunct Newswatch magazine.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.