Journalists and distinguished figures from Nigeria’s media business on Monday gathered in Lagos to honour Dele Giwa, the late founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch journal, 40 years after his assassination.
The gathering, held at the Sir Kessington Adebutu Auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, featured the unveiling of Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism, edited by veteran journalist Ray Ekpu, with a foreword by Yemi Ogunbiyi.
Among these in attendance have been Sam Amuka, writer of Vanguard Newspapers, who chaired the event; former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, Mr Ogunbiyi, a former managing director of Daily Times, Nduka Obaigbena, chairman and editor-in-chief of THISDAY, and Biodun Shobanjo, founding father of Insight Communications.
Mr Ekpu, a former colleague of Mr Giwa, mentioned the book was meant to protect his legacy and draw consideration to the enduring significance of journalism, fact and accountability.
“We are usually not right here to mourn the dying of Dele, regardless that his dying comes as a predictable thriller. We have finished lots of that, publicly and privately, within the final 40 years.
“We are here to give presence to his absence by presenting to the public a book that will immortalise him,” he mentioned.
Mr Ekpu mentioned the publication brings collectively chosen articles written by Mr Giwa for Daily Times, The Sunday Concord and Newswatch, in addition to interviews and contributions analyzing his journalism and affect.
He recalled his shut relationship with Mr Giwa, together with the interval after they lived in a duplex in Ikeja, Lagos, with their households.
Mr Ekpu additionally recounted how his younger son deserted his ambition to turn out to be a journalist after Mr Giwa was killed, saying the incident mirrored the dangers journalists face whereas protecting protests, riots, elections and wars.
Citing figures from the International Federation of Journalists, Mr Ekpu mentioned 128 journalists and media employees have been killed worldwide in 2025. He lamented the insufficient safety of journalists and the failure to make sure accountability for assaults in opposition to them.
“Whoever said that the pen is mightier than the sword did not have Nigeria in mind,” he mentioned.
He urged journalists to proceed holding these in energy accountable, saying a lot remained to be finished to construct a greater Nigeria.
Kolawole displays on Giwa’s legacy
Reviewing the book, founding father of The Cable, a web based newspaper, Simon Kolawole, described Mr Giwa as a author whose work was pushed by mental curiosity, a dedication to fact and a way of public duty.
Mr Kolawole mentioned Mr Giwa’s journalism prolonged past reporting on Nigeria to worldwide politics, race relations, the Western media, capital and questions on human existence.
Mr Kolawole mentioned the book didn’t current Mr Giwa as a saint, acknowledging that he could possibly be combative and significant. Rather, he mentioned, Mr Giwa was a journalist deeply engaged with society and unwilling to stay detached to its issues.
He mentioned the gathering provided classes in curiosity, braveness, readability, storytelling, self-discipline and originality.
Mr Kolawole additionally described journalism as a public duty slightly than merely a career.
“Forty years after his assassination, the remarkable thing is not simply that Nigerians still remember his book. It is that his writing can still command our attention, challenge our assumptions, and give us considerable reading pleasure,” he mentioned.
He urged journalists, college students of journalism and historical past, writers and different readers to have interaction with the gathering.
Family, colleagues rejoice Giwa
Mr Giwa’s widow, Funmi, and daughter, Aisha, attended the occasion alongside journalists from completely different generations and media organisations who gathered to rejoice his contribution to Nigerian journalism.
Aisha mentioned she remained happy with her father and the legacy he left behind.
READ ALSO: Newswatch to unveil book honouring Dele Giwa 40 years after assassination
The gathering additionally featured reflections on press freedom, skilled braveness and the duty of journalists to carry public officers accountable.
The late Dele Giwa
Mr Giwa was killed by a parcel bomb delivered to his Lagos residence on 19 October 1986. His assassination stays one of the crucial distinguished unsolved killings of a journalist in Nigeria.
His killing, broadly blamed on the then-regime of army president Ibrahim Babangida, stays unresolved. Mr Babangida, 85, has constantly denied complicity within the homicide. The late authorized icon, Gani Fawehinmi, championed the reason for justice for Mr Giwa till he himself handed away in September 2009.
Mr Giwa, who was 39 at the time of his dying in 1986, co-founded Newswatch journal in 1985 with Mr Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese. Mr Giwa served because the journal’s editor-in-chief, with Mr Ekpu as his deputy.
The journal, below Mr Giwa’s editorship, helped advance investigative journalism in Nigeria.
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