By HRM Janet Mba-Afolabi
When Dan Agbese Co-founder of Newswatch passed on in November last year,Yakubu Mohammed also Newswatch Co Founder was alive.
As preparations are made for Agbese's burial in February, we had no idea that Mohammed will be buried before Agbese.
Yesterday (Wednesday, January 14, 2026) Dotun Oladipo, ex Newswatch and Publisher of Eagle online sent me an early morning message that he was just going to Mohammed's house because he had passed on. Shocked, confused and speechless, l rushed out to join Dotun there.
In our presence, Mohammed's remains was taken to Kogi, his home state.
I didn't know he was ill until I asked someone why he was absent at the event organized to pay tributes to Agbese..l was curious because he always described Agbese as his elder brother, so l expected him to be there.
On December 20 last year, l visited Mohammed to wish him quick recovery. I also used the opportunity to thank him for the honour of dedicating two pages of his book to me.l spent quality time with him because l hadn't seem him since l became a Royal Queen six years ago.
He appreciated my visit. On January 1st, he wished me happy new year and l promised to call him.
Six days ago, we had a long conversation. He sounded very well.Nothing in his voice indicated he will pass on yesterday (Wednesday).
I knew Mohammed as a teenager, when l just left secondary school. He was the Editor of National Concord newspaper. I met him during one of my visits to Concord. Folorunsho Ishola, then the Crime Editor of Concord, introduced me to him.
He was glad to meet me. He shook my hands firmly and thanked me, for being a credible source of information to Concord. On many occasions, Concord changed its cover stories because of the scoops Ishola got from me.
Mohammed gave me a name. He called me" Friend of Concord" Each time he came to the newsroom and saw me he called me that name.
I didn't see Mohammed again for many years. Fate brought me in contact with him again in 1987,when I wanted to do one-year internship.
The first place that came to my mind was Newswatch because l knew Mohammed was the Managing Editor and Co Founder.
My elder brother Chris Mba, retired Group Captain in the Airforce, wanted to give me a note to Newswatch to see Ray Ekpu, his school mate in Holy Family college, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, but I refused. I told him I knew Mohammed.
I went to see Mohammed at 62 Oregun Road, Ikeja Lagos where Newswatch office was at the time. I didn’t wait for too long at reception before I was invited to Mohammed’s office on the first floor.
I told him the reason why I came. He said l could start immediately. As I got up to leave he jokingly said ‘’ I hope you still have those your exclusive stories?’’
Mohammed gave me an amazing workspace and environment to prove myself. He taught me the basics of news writing. He said "when an introduction is over elaborated, it begins to draw like "ogbono" soup. No editor wants to be burdened by a badly written story" So he encouraged me to always go through my script again and again.
Mohammed made me understand the purpose of correction in stories. I used to repeat the same mistakes that he corrected.
Perhaps, he was tired of correcting the same errors over and over again in my script. One day, he asked me “do you even read the edited version of your stories? I said ‘’No sir’’. Then how do you want to learn, the essence of correction is for you not to repeat the mistake again’’, he said, with emphasis.
As he was talking, I was frowning. Mohammed noticed my facial expression and told me that I should "learn to value constructive criticism. Most writers interpret a negative reaction to their writing as an assault or insult, not only upon their ability to write but also upon their person."
He said reporters do not look forward to editors’ unfavorable comments. But they can profit from such criticisms by not viewing them as insult but as suggestions given in good faith for the improvement of their stories.
From then on, my attitude changed and l started taking note of the corrections in my stories, without feeling bad. It helped me a great deal to improve on my writing.
Mohammed was very generous.There was hardly any reporter who did not go to him for financial assistance. He never turned anyone down. I was one of the regular beneficiaries of his generosity.
He was also very accessible to reporters, especially when we needed approval for ‘’emergency’’ trips for assignments outside Lagos. The trips were always induced by lack of money in our pockets . Sometimes the situation was so bad that we did not have transport fare to go home. The only way out was to quickly think of story ideas that will take us out of Lagos. Once the travel allowance was paid, how to go home would no longer be a challenge.
After picking travel allowance form from the accounts department, we positioned ourselves on the corridor. We patiently waited for the other Directors to go home. Then we moved into Mohammed's office for approval .
Perhaps out of compassion, he always approved the money without too much interrogation. One thing he always said was that we should come back with good stories to justify the money, “ Don’t collect the money and go on a jamboree “ he always warned.
An accomplished Journalist and Columnist, Mohammed was born on April 4, 1950 at Ologba, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
As they bury him today in the same town he was born, his good deeds will survive him.They will not follow him to the grave, because they cannot be buried.
...Her Royal Majesty Queen Janet Mba-Afolabi is an award-winning prominent Journalist and publisher of Scroll magazine. She is the reigning Queen of Apomu Royal Kingdom. NNL.
