AGBESE’S DEMISE: A GREAT BLOW TO NIGERIA’S MEDIA COMMUNITY — AKPABIO …Extends Condolences to Family, NUJ, NGE

The President of the Senate, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has described the death of veteran journalist and Newswatch magazine co-founder, Chief Dan Agbese, as “a monumental loss to Nigeria’s journalism family and to all who value truth, integrity, and courageous storytelling.

In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, mnipr, the Senate President expressed deep sorrow over the passing of “a media icon whose pen never wavered in defence of the public interest.”

He stated that Chief Agbese belonged to a generation of journalists whose contributions defined an era and set the benchmark for ethical, fearless, and professional journalism in the country.

According to him, “On behalf of the National Assembly, my family, and the good people I represent, I deeply mourn the loss of Chief Dan Agbese — a distinguished journalist who devoted his life to the pursuit of truth, accountability, and press freedom. His writings shaped national conscience, challenged power, and illuminated the path of democracy. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of journalists yet unborn.”

Senator Akpabio extended heartfelt condolences to the Agbese family, his associates, and the entire media community, noting that his death leaves a void that will be felt across newsrooms and editorial desks nationwide.

He also sympathized with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), describing the moment as “a shared grief for all who believe in the critical role of journalism in nation-building.”

He prayed for the repose of the “gentle soul of this titan of the written word” and asked God to grant his family and the nation’s media community the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss.