By Charles Iornumbe PhD.
The name Dan Agbese carries a commanding presence in the global journalism space.
In Nigeria in particular, Agbese was a towering figure whose words echoed through the corridors of power over the years and continue to resonate in the minds of Nigerians long after his passing.
In keeping with the saying that “The pen is mightier than the sword,” Agbese wielded his pen with the finesse of a maestro, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s journalism landscape.
“A giant in stature and intellect,” as Mr. Igba Ogbole, a retired Director of News and Current Affairs, Radio Benue Corporation, Makurdi, once aptly described him on his social media handles, Agbese was a true definition of journalism excellence.
His writing was a masterclass in clarity, precision and incisiveness, earning him the reverence of peers and readers alike.
“Uncle Dan was also a great writer whose mastery of the effective and efficient deployment of words has turned him into a prophet and conscience of society,” Ogbole adds.
Born on May 12, 1944, in Agila, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, Agbese’s life journey was an indication of the power of perseverance and passion.
From Methodist School Agila to the University of Lagos and later, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Agbese’s academic pursuits were exemplified by distinction.
He won the coveted Isaac Pitman prize and the John Taylor prize – evidences of his exceptional intellectual proficiency.
Agbese’s professional journey was equally illustrious.
He taught at the Methodist Primary School Ikpeba Agila, worked as a Library Assistant at Ahmadu Bello University, and served as a pioneer member of NYSC at Western Nigeria Television, WNTV and Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service, WNBS.
His journalism career spanned decades of rich, exemplary and hugely impactful practice that took him through the New Nigerian Newspaper, Nigerian Standard Newspaper and Newswatch Communications where he co-founded the trail-blazing weekly news magazine.
He also served as General Manager of Radio Benue and Benue State Director of Information during which he used his expertise to improve staff productivity through enhanced welfare and training.
Agbese was also a prolific author whose literary output was staggering.
He authored many books such as The Newswatch Style Book – A Guide to Good Writing, The Reporter’s Companion, The Columnist’s Companion, Fellow Nigerians and Nigeria, their Nigeria.
Others are an authorised biography on Ibrahim Babangida entitled, The Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria,
Conversations With History, The Six Military Governors voices of history: Reminiscences of a Reporter and Footprints on the Marble – the biography of Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako.
He also edited four books, including In The Service of My Country: Selected Speeches of Abdullahi Adamu,
Conversation With IBB and The Energy Crises in Nigeria and Conversation With History.
Agbese’s books have been recommended for use in many Nigerian tertiary institutions, a confirmation of his enduring legacy.
As we reflect on Agbese’s life and work, we are reminded of the words of Walter Lippmann that “The function of the Press is to tell the truth, not half-truths or quarter-truths.”
Agbese embodied this ethos and his contributions to Nigerian journalism will continue to encourage and outlive many generations to come.
In recognition of Agbese’s outstanding contributions to journalism and media development in Nigeria, the Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, renamed the Benue State Printing and Publishing Corporation as Dan Agbese Printing and Publishing Corporation.
This fitting tribute recognises Agbese’s commitment to journalistic excellence, integrity and professionalism.
The Corporation is expected to continue producing high-quality publications and promoting media excellence in the state in honour of what Agbese, a doyen of media practice, represented.
The news of Dan Agbese’s passing, no doubt, sent shockwaves through the journalism community with tributes pouring in from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, colleagues, friends and admirers.
In his tribute, President Bola Tinubu described Dan Agbese’s death as a profound loss to Nigeria’s media industry and the country as a whole. He said Agbese, alongside his colleagues at Newswatch, pioneered a new era of investigative and interpretative journalism in Nigeria, transforming media practice and setting standards for ethical and courageous reporting.
“Dan Agbese was not just a journalist; he was an institution. His pen shaped public opinion, strengthened democratic discourse and inspired a generation of media practitioners,” President Tinubu said.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said he was deeply saddened by Agbese’s passing, describing him as a foundational pillar of Nigeria’s contemporary journalism and a tireless advocate for a free press.
“Agbese was a titan of truth whose legacy formed the foundation of enlightened public discourse by co-founding the trailblazing Newswatch magazine, which became a defining institution in our national life,” Idris noted.
A contemporary of the deceased, Ray Ekpu described Agbese’s journalism as admirable, saying he wrote to express, not to impress. “He believed in simplicity, clarity, one word sentences and no grandiloquence. But in writing to express, he impressed admirably because his writing was understood by those who read him.”
Similarly, Prof. Prisca Ndu mourning Agbese’s passing, said he left behind a profound void in Nigeria’s investigative journalism and media space. “He was a true epitome of professionalism, humility, and virtue; a symbol of grace and tenacity, an iroko indeed and a pillar of support to the many lives he touched and transformed.”
Back home, some former Media Executives and Jiurnaliats also poured in their hearts following the demise of Dan Agbese.
First is the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, who described Agbese as a man of courage, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to the truth.
Comrade Ugber said Agbese’s legacies extend beyond his journalistic prowess, noting that the deceased was a mentor and inspiration to many young journalists.
Pioneer Director General of Radio Benue Corporation Makurdi, Mr. Elvis Attah said Dan Agbese was undoubtedly a household name in journalism practice in Nigeria based on his track record of performance in all the places he worked.
Mr. Attah who is a retired Permanent Secretary, averred that Mr. Agbese’s meritorious service to the State as a one-time Chief Executive Officer of Radio Benue cannot be forgotten in a hurry, adding that his legacies in the journalism profession would outlive his name.
Mr. Tahav Agerzua, a former Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity and ICT, recalled Agbese’s exceptional skill in manipulating transitive verbs to convey meaning, saying, “Even after his demise, the Media is still learning from his legacies.”
Chief Elaigwu Abutu, General Manager of Brothers FM Makurdi and former Chairman of NUJ Benue State Council, described Agbese as an icon of journalism, known for his down-to-earth reports, integrity and frankness.
He praised Governor Alia for the honouring Agbese, saying the gesture will go a long way in giving Journalists hope for a better tomorrow.
Mrs. Joyce Bur Akuraga, a former NAWOJ Chairperson in Benue, praised Agbese’s fearlessness and commitment to journalistic ethics, urging young journalists to emulate his virtues.
She commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for immortalizing Agbese by renaming the Benue State Printing and Publishing Corporation after him.
The General Manager of the Voice Newspaper, Mr. Iorvaa Atachin, said Agbese was known for his commitment to journalism, using his writings to shape society towards positive change.
Mr. Atachin urged young professionals to emulate Agbese’s character and style.
Agbese’s burial programme has been released with the body to be laid to rest in his hometown, Agila, on February 13, 2026.
The Chairman of Ado Local Government Council, Hon. Sunday Oche, praised Agbese’s virtues and assured that the local government would accord him a befitting burial.
Hon. Oche confirmed that Ado Local Government once conferred on Agbese a traditional title of ‘Awunu Oodu’, meaning the one that makes things happen in appreciation of his selfless service to the community.
Dan Agbese will be greatly missed but remembered for the legacies he has left behind by the people now and in the near future.
Dr Iornumbe was a former Director General of Radio Benue Corporation, Makurdi.