They called it "journalism of courage," For Dele Giwa, the phrase was not just a motto; it was a mission. And in the end, it was a mission that cost him his life.Giwa, the founder of Nigeria's groundbreaking Newswatch magazine, was a man who believed in the power of the press to speak truth to power. His tragic assassination in 1986 by a parcel bomb shattered Nigeria's media community and left a wound that has never fully healed.
Sumonu Oladele Giwa was born on March 16, 1947, in Ile-Ife. Growing up in the palace of the Ooni of Ife, where his father worked, he was surrounded by influence and tradition from a young age. His talent for writing sparked early; as a student at Oduduwa College, he was already editing the school paper, The Torch.
His journey to journalism wasn't straightforward. After working as a clerk and a banker, he pursued his education in the United States. There, he earned a degree in English and, crucially, got a taste of the newsroom as a news assistant for The New York Times. This experience would shape his vision for Nigerian media.Returning home in 1979, he quickly rose through the ranks, first at the Daily Times and then as the first editor of the Sunday Concord. But his true dream was just beginning.
In 1985, Giwa, together with fellow journalists Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, and Yakubu Mohammed, launched Newswatch magazine. It was an instant sensation.The magazine was bold, stylish, and unafraid. It pioneered investigative reporting in Nigeria, holding the powerful to account in a way that was rarely seen. As one 1989 account noted, Newswatch single-handedly "changed the format of print journalism in Nigeria." As its editor-in-chief, Giwa became the face of this brave new media.
The magazine's critical stance on the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida made Giwa a target. In October 1986, he was interrogated by the State Security Service (SSS) over his writing.Just days later, on October 19, 1986, while working from his home in Ikeja, Lagos, a courier delivered a parcel. Believing it to be official government communication, Giwa opened it. The package exploded.
The bomb mortally wounded the 39-year-old journalist, who died after 38 hours of fighting for his life. His colleague, Kayode Soyinka, who was in the home at the time, survived with temporary deafness. The nation was thrown into shock and outrage.
In the aftermath, calls for an independent investigation were ignored. The case grew cold, becoming Nigeria's most famous unsolved political murder.
Yet, Giwa's legacy refused to die. He became a symbol a martyr for press freedom. In 2008, the government acknowledged his impact by naming a street after him in Abuja. His life has been chronicled in books, and his story is a foundational lesson for every aspiring journalist in Nigeria.
Sumonu Oladele Giwa was born on March 16, 1947, in Ile-Ife. Growing up in the palace of the Ooni of Ife, where his father worked, he was surrounded by influence and tradition from a young age. His talent for writing sparked early; as a student at Oduduwa College, he was already editing the school paper, The Torch.
His journey to journalism wasn't straightforward. After working as a clerk and a banker, he pursued his education in the United States. There, he earned a degree in English and, crucially, got a taste of the newsroom as a news assistant for The New York Times. This experience would shape his vision for Nigerian media.Returning home in 1979, he quickly rose through the ranks, first at the Daily Times and then as the first editor of the Sunday Concord. But his true dream was just beginning.
In 1985, Giwa, together with fellow journalists Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, and Yakubu Mohammed, launched Newswatch magazine. It was an instant sensation.The magazine was bold, stylish, and unafraid. It pioneered investigative reporting in Nigeria, holding the powerful to account in a way that was rarely seen. As one 1989 account noted, Newswatch single-handedly "changed the format of print journalism in Nigeria." As its editor-in-chief, Giwa became the face of this brave new media.
The magazine's critical stance on the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida made Giwa a target. In October 1986, he was interrogated by the State Security Service (SSS) over his writing.Just days later, on October 19, 1986, while working from his home in Ikeja, Lagos, a courier delivered a parcel. Believing it to be official government communication, Giwa opened it. The package exploded.
The bomb mortally wounded the 39-year-old journalist, who died after 38 hours of fighting for his life. His colleague, Kayode Soyinka, who was in the home at the time, survived with temporary deafness. The nation was thrown into shock and outrage.
In the aftermath, calls for an independent investigation were ignored. The case grew cold, becoming Nigeria's most famous unsolved political murder.
Yet, Giwa's legacy refused to die. He became a symbol a martyr for press freedom. In 2008, the government acknowledged his impact by naming a street after him in Abuja. His life has been chronicled in books, and his story is a foundational lesson for every aspiring journalist in Nigeria.
Dele Giwa's story is a powerful blend of brilliant writing, pioneering publishing, and a tragic end. It is a story that continues to fuel vital debates about the price of truth and the dangerous, essential work of holding power accountable.
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