Renowned journalist, poet and cultural advocate, Evelyn Osagie, has died.
Her brother, Kelvin Osagie, announced her death in a Facebook post on Sunday.
He wrote, “It is with the heaviest heart that I announce the call to glory of my elder sister, Evelyn Osagie, which occurred on the 17th of August, 2025, after a brief illness. Honestly I am devastated right now, and words cannot qualify the pain, sorrow and bitterness I feel in my heart right now, death snatched u from us like a thief in the night, u have left this cruel, unforgiving, wicked, selfish, dishonest and dangerous world to eternal glory, u were a pillar of my life, my moral backbone, and ur loss will leave a void in my heart that all the sand on earth will not be able to fill, adieu my big sis, rest easy in the bosom of Abraham, and may ur soul rest in the most perfect peace, amen!”
Journalist and poet Henry Akubuiro also paid tribute, giving details of how she died. He wrote, “Goodbye, Evelyn Osagie. It is heartbreaking to learn about the passing of Evelyn Osagie of The Nation Newspapers. Also a performance poet and a photographer, Ms Osagie died at 5 a.m. today at the Catholic Ancillia Hospital at Fagba, Lagos.
“She was rushed to the hospital yesterday after complaining of vomiting and stooling, but couldn’t make it. Evelyn was a hardworking arts and culture journalist. For over a decade, she was, together with a couple of seasoned journalists, my travel partner across Nigeria, from Lagos to the Niger Delta, North West, North East, North Central, South West, South East, FCT, and the Middle Belt. Wherever major literary events were holding in Nigeria, she was always there, nosing for exclusives. Nigeria has lost a highflyer. May her soul rest in peace.”
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) also mourned her. In a statement signed by its president, Wole Adedoyin, members described her death as a huge loss to Nigeria’s literary and cultural community.
Fans, friends and colleagues also took to social media to express their grief.
Busola Odugbesan wrote, “EVELYN OSAGIE YOU LEFT JUST LIKE THAT. WHYYYYYYYYY.”
Eriata Oribhabor added, “WE LOST A RARE GEM – EVELYN OSAGIE. When the shocking news of the death of our dear poet, Evelyn Osagie reached me, I was overwhelmed by emotions from our plans toward celebrating PIN@10 in October and different beautiful ideas shared with me in this regard. Faced by the terrible challenge of writing these lines, I am wondering whether words would be enough to express her irreparable loss to our nation’s creative industry. A consummate journalist and multi-talented performance poet, Evelyn’s legacy will transcend generations. May her soul rest in peace.”
Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu also wrote, “The journalism community has lost a rare gem. Dear Evelyn Osagie, your passing is extremely painful. May God the comforter support your family and friends.”
Until her death, Osagie was assistant editor (Arts) and senior correspondent with The Nation newspaper. She was also a strategy member of TheNationFound.
She was known for her unique style of “experiential poetry”, which fused journalism and performance. Her works drew endorsements from literary icons including late Prof. J.P. Clark, Prof. Ebun Clark and Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Osagie reported widely on arts, culture, women and children’s rights, mental health and civil society issues. One of her most remarkable projects was documenting the story of Indian Ayuba, a young girl with a mentally challenged mother, beginning in 2009.
In 2015, she won the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) Beatrice Bassey Prize for Female Reporter of the Year.
She was also set to be featured in Moonbeam – An Anthology of Short Stories by Nigeria’s Foremost Culture Journalists with her short story Big Brother of Zone Four.
Osagie’s death on Sunday at Catholic Ancillia Hospital, Fagba, Lagos, has been described as a huge loss to journalism and Nigeria’s creative industry.
