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• Ooni, Eno, Bago, Adesina, Tantita among centenary awardees
Nigeria’s political, business and traditional leaders will converge on Abuja on September 3 as the Daily Times Nigeria celebrates its centenary with the DTN@100 Heroes Awards, honouring personalities and institutions for contributions to the country’s development.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Umaru Bago of Niger are among the prominent Nigerians on the honours list.
Also listed for recognition are the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The awards form part of activities marking 100 years of Daily Times, one of Nigeria’s oldest newspapers, and will recognise contributions spanning governance, business, security, economic development, traditional institutions and public service.
Akume will receive the DTN@100 Statesman Award for his public service and contributions to national cohesion, while Yilwatda is listed for the Political Leadership Award.
Among the governors, Uzodinma will receive the Good Governance Award, while Sanwo-Olu is being honoured with the Mega City Transformation Award.
Bago will receive the Agricultural Revolution Award for his administration’s agricultural and food-security initiatives.
Mbah is listed for the Innovation and Infrastructure Award, with the organisers citing investments in governance, security and urban renewal, while Eno will receive the People-Centred Governance Award for initiatives under his administration’s ARISE Agenda.
From the private sector, Dangote will be decorated with the Industrialist of the Century Award for his contributions to industrialisation and employment.
Adesina will receive the Pan-African Development Award for his contributions to development across the continent.
The Ooni will be honoured with the Royal Icon Award in recognition of his role in cultural promotion and youth empowerment.
In the security sector, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is listed for the Change Maker of the Century Award, with the organisers citing its involvement in protecting oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
Other personalities and institutions drawn from banking, health, education, media, sports and philanthropy are also expected to be honoured.
Chairman of Folio Media Group and Publisher of Daily Times, Fidelis Anosike, said the awards were conceived to recognise Nigerians whose contributions have made an impact during the newspaper’s century-long history.
“For 100 years, Daily Times has told the Nigerian story. Today we honour those writing the next chapter. These are men and women who chose service over self, and results over rhetoric,” Anosike said.
The centenary event is expected to attract cabinet members, governors, captains of industry, traditional rulers, diplomats and media leaders.
It will also feature tributes and documentaries as well as the unveiling of the DTN@100 Commemorative Book chronicling Nigeria’s journey through the perspective of Daily Times.
With the theme, “A Century of Truth, A Future of Impact,” the celebration is intended to commemorate the newspaper’s past while setting the tone for its next century.
