NUJ mourns Yakubu Mohammed, co-founder of Newswatch Magazine

The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahya, has received with profound sadness the news of the passing of Mr. Yakubu Mohammed, renowned journalist and co-founder of the iconic Newswatch magazine.

In a statement issued on behalf of the National Executive Council and the entire NUJ family, Comrade Alhassan Yahya described the late Mohammed as a towering and courageous figure whose professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to investigative journalism helped shape the course of modern journalism in Nigeria.

“Yakubu Mohammed was far more than a journalist; he was an institution,” the NUJ President said. “As a co-founder of Newswatch magazine, he played a historic and defining role in entrenching editorial independence, rigorous investigative reporting, and ethical journalism, particularly during some of the most critical moments in Nigeria’s political history.”

The Union noted that Mr. Mohammed’s impact extended well beyond the newsroom. He was a respected public intellectual and a mentor to generations of journalists, many of whom continue to draw inspiration from his principles, courage, and dedication to the profession.

The NUJ expressed its deepest condolences to the Mohammed family, the management and former staff of Newswatch magazine, and the entire Nigerian media community over this irreparable loss.

“We pray that Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest and gives his family, colleagues, and loved ones the strength and fortitude to bear this profound loss,” the statement concluded.