Veteran Nigerian journalist and media executive, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed, has passed away after battling an undisclosed illness.
Newsonspot reports that one of the children, Yusuf Mohammed, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Wednesday morning. However, sources also disclosed that he had been unwell for some time before his death.
Born on April 4, 1950, Mohammed hailed from Ologba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. He obtained a B.Sc degree and built an illustrious career in journalism spanning several decades.
His academic journey began at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Ayangba, Kogi State, in 1964, before proceeding to Government Secondary School, Okene, where he studied between 1965 and 1969. He later attended the University of Lagos from 1972 to 1975 and furthered his education at the Glasgow College of Technology, Scotland, United Kingdom, between 1978 and 1979.
Mohammed’s journalism career commenced with New Nigerian Newspapers, where he served as Associate Editor from 1976 to 1980 and later as Managing Editor in 1980. He went on to work with National Concord, holding positions as Deputy Editor from 1980 to 1982 and Editor between 1982 and 1984.
He was also a co-founder and Executive Editor of Newswatch Magazine from 1984 to 1986, after which he became Managing Editor of Newswatch from 1986 to 1994. From 1994, he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Newswatch Communications Limited, playing a key role in shaping investigative journalism in Nigeria.
Beyond journalism, Mohammed was a Director at Yadara Nigeria Limited and Lastop Limited. He was an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association (CJA), and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
He also served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, contributing to the development of higher education in Nigeria.
In November 2025, Mohammed launched his memoir titled “Beyond Expectations,” chronicling his life, career, and contributions to journalism and public service.
Outside his professional life, he enjoyed playing tennis, dancing, listening to music, and watching movies.
His death marks the end of an era in Nigerian journalism, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism, mentorship, and dedication to truth.
