Forty years on, a book collects Dele Giwa's journalism
Newswatch will present Dele Giwa's Granite Journalism, edited by Ray Ekpu, in Lagos on 19 October, the anniversary of its founding editor's killing.
Lagos — Newswatch magazine will present a book honouring its founding editor-in-chief, Dele Giwa, on 19 October, 40 years after he was killed, Premium Times reports.
Dele Giwa's Granite Journalism, edited by the veteran journalist Ray Ekpu, collects Giwa's work from the Daily Times, Sunday Concord and Newswatch, with tributes from fellow journalists, particularly his peers and friends. It also reflects, its publishers say, how Newswatch helped revive investigative journalism in Nigeria from its first days under Giwa's editorship.
The presentation will take place at the Kessington Adebutu Auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Ogba, Ikeja. Sam Amuka, founder and publisher of Vanguard, will chair it. The announcement was signed by Soji Akinrinade, editor-in-chief of Newswatch.
The founders
Giwa founded Newswatch in 1985 with Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese, and served as its editor-in-chief. Mr Agbese died in November 2025 and Mr Mohammed in January 2026, leaving Mr Ekpu the last surviving founder.
His death
Giwa was killed on 19 October 1986 by a parcel bomb delivered to his home on Talabi Street, Ikeja. He was 39. His killing remains unresolved. It is widely blamed on the military government of Ibrahim Babangida, who has consistently denied any involvement. The late lawyer Gani Fawehinmi campaigned for justice in the case until his death in 2009.
Source: Premium Times, reporting by Folashade Ogunrinde, 14 October 2026.
