News
My brother Dan, goodbye – Ray Ekpu
Veteran journalist Ray Ekpu delivered a heartfelt tribute to his late colleague and Newswatch co-founder, Chief Dan Agbese, on behalf of Newswatch Communications Limited during a celebration of life ceremony held on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Whitestone Event Place in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event brought together journalists, public officials, writers, and admirers to honour Agbese, who passed away on November 17, 2025, at the age of 81 following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Chief Rose Agbese, six children (including a professor of Mass Communication), and seven grandchildren.
In his tribute, Ekpu described the deep interconnectedness among Newswatch’s four original founders—Dele Giwa, Yakubu Mohammed, Dan Agbese, and himself—likening it to a “cobweb” forged through shared education at the University of Lagos in the 1970s, professional experiences, and a bold decision to launch an independent publication in 1985.
“We moved fiercely from being friends to being founders,” Ekpu recounted, detailing how the trio of Mohammed, Giwa, and himself secured initial funding in London before Agbese wisely suggested naming the company Newswatch Communications Limited to align with the magazine’s title.
Ekpu highlighted the foundational principles that sustained their 27-year partnership: appointing Giwa and Agbese as leaders to affirm their value, equal salaries and allowances for all founders, mandatory column writing, and democratic decision-making through voting, with a casting vote to break ties.
He praised the group’s diversity—spanning different ethnic groups and religions (three Christians and one Muslim)—as a strength that prevented bigotry and fostered harmony. “These attributes increased the acreage of our understanding of each other and limited areas of our disagreement,” Ekpu said.
Ekpu portrayed Agbese as a humble royal who never flaunted his heritage, a calm and decent leader despite being the oldest and most experienced, and a mentor who encouraged clear, reader-friendly writing without grandiloquence or sensationalism.
“Dan’s journalism was admirably simple and simply admirable,” Ekpu noted, emphasising Agbese’s rejection of “guerrilla journalism” and insistence on fact-checking, including Newswatch’s “three-source rule” for major stories.
The tribute also recalled Newswatch’s innovative practices, such as democratised cover story selection, staff performance assessments based on published work, and the introduction of “Preface to Cover”—philosophical essays Ekpu pioneered—as appetisers to main features.
Ekpu commended Agbese’s courage during military rule, when Newswatch faced proscription, detentions, frozen accounts, and trials—including a mutiny charge alongside Ekpu and Mohammed—yet remained committed to credible, investigative journalism.
Reflecting on their enduring friendship, Ekpu said disagreements were resolved swiftly, often within a day, and continued post-retirement in 2011 through a new writing venture. “We are an orchestra: start together and finish together.”
In conclusion, Ekpu urged the family to “rejoice and celebrate” Agbese’s illustrious legacy as a nationalist, patriot, author of several books (one a university text), and iconic columnist whose style is studied in Nigerian institutions. He outlived Nigeria’s average life expectancy of 56 by 25 years and left a profound impact.
Ekpu called on journalists to support the newly approved Code of Ethics and Ombudsman structure by bodies like the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Guild of Editors as the “best tribute” to Agbese amid challenges from AI and social media.
“My brother Dan, goodbye,” Ekpu closed.
The event featured opening remarks by former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, who praised Agbese’s character, and tributes echoing themes of integrity, simplicity, and mentorship. President Bola Tinubu and others had earlier mourned Agbese as an “institution” in Nigerian journalism.
Crime
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie blames Euracare Hospital for son’s death
Chimamanda Ngozi AAdichie has revealed how her son was killed at Euracare Hospital by an anesthesiologist, in her statement, she said: “My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th.We were in Lagos for Christmas.
Nkanu had what we first thought was just a cold, but soon turned into a very serious infection and he was admitted to Atlantis hospital. He was to travel to the US the next day, January 7th, accompanied by Travelling Doctors. A team at Johns Hopkins was waiting to receive him in Baltimore.
The Hopkins team had asked for a lumbar puncture test and an MRI. The Nigerian team had also decided to put in a ‘central line’ (used to administer iv medications) in preparation for Nkanu’s flight. Atlantis hospital referred us to Euracare Hospital, which was said to be the best place to have the procedures done.
The morning of the 6th, we left Atlantis hospital for Euracare, Nkanu carried in his father’s arms. We were told he would need to be sedated to prevent him from moving during the MRI and the ‘central line’ procedure.
I was waiting just outside the theater. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theater and immediately knew something had happened.
A short time later, Dr M came out and told me Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, had become unresponsive and was quickly resuscitated.
But suddenly Nkanu was on a ventilator, he was intubated and placed in the ICU. The next thing I heard was that he had seizures. Cardiac arrest. All these had never happened before. Some hours later, Nkanu was goneIt turns out that Nkanu was NEVER monitored after being given too much propofol.
The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theater, so nobody knows when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive. How can you sedate a sick child and neglect to
monitor him? Later, after the ‘central line’ procedure, the anesthesiologist casually switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again decided to carry him on his shoulder to the ICU!
The anesthesiologist was CRIMINALLY negligent. He was fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child. No proper protocol was followed. We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures.
And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever. It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child.
We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working? This must never happen to another child.
News
LASG Announces Traffic Diversion Tonight At Fadeyi, Ojuelegba Bridge
Consequently, motorists are advised to use the highlighted route during the nighttime installation of the barriers; Motorists from Fadeyi Donmanlong Bridge/Ayilara inbound Ojuelegba are to make use of the Service Lane from Fadeyi/Jibowu/Empire/Donmanlong to link Barracks to access their desired destinations.
The Lagos State Government has announced that installations of truck barriers at Fadeyi inward Donmanlong and Donmanlong inward Ojuelegba will takes effect from Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 10pm until Sunday, January 11, 2026
Therefore, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, urges motorists to use alternative routes during the installations period.
He said that the temporary closure of the bridge is to enhance road safety and prevent accidents along these high-traffic routes.
Consequently, Motorists are advised to use the highlighted route during the nighttime installation of the barriers; Motorists from Fadeyi Donmanlong Bridge/Ayilara inbound Ojuelegba are to make use of the Service Lane from Fadeyi/Jibowu/Empire/Donmanlong to link Barracks to access their desired destinations,” he said.
He implored residents and motorists to remain patient, noting that the installation was scheduled for night hours to minimize disruptions.
The Commissioner warned that motorists who vandalize or damage the barriers will face the wrath of the law.
News
Homicide: Killer husband on the run for alleged murder of wife
Ayobami Ayanwale was allegedly stabbed to death in front of her children by her husband.
Tragedy struck at number 21 Olutayo Alao Street, River Valley Estate, mainland Lagos.
A mother of three simply identified as Ayobami Ayanwale was allegedly stabbed to death in front of her children by her husband.
Eye-witness neighbours who confirmed the incident said that her body has since been deposited at a mortuary after she was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital at Olowoora area of the community.
Following the incident, the alledged killer husband has fled, leaving the survived three children with the dead wife’s elder brother at Akute.
The case was reported to Adigboluja Police station Ojodu-Abiodun.
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