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Business leaders Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, alongside advertising expert, Dr Biodun Shobanjo, will headline the DTN@100 townhall and national conversation holding in Lagos today (Tuesday).
The event, tagged *Shaping the Future*, will bring together prominent business leaders, media executives, public officials and other stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s global image and how to better project the country’s achievements to the world.
The discussion will focus on how Nigeria can overcome its negative international image despite the remarkable achievements of its citizens in technology, medicine, sports, music and other fields.
The townhall will be co-chaired by former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Sam Amuka-Pemu; and Executive Chairman of Tanus Communications, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi. As part of the event, Dangote, Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, will receive the Centenary Excellence Award, while Shobanjo, Chairman of Troika Group/Insight Publicis, will be honoured with the Trailblazer of the Century Award.
Obaigbena, Chairman of ThisDay and Arise News Channel, will receive the Media Icon of the Decade Award, while Ovia, founder of Zenith Bank, will be presented with the Changemaker of the Century Award.
Other award recipients include Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Ms Neya Orji Kalu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Inspector-General of Police, Jimi Disu; and Founder/Chairman of Nova Bank, Mr Phillips Oduoza, among others.
The conversation will feature contributions from Managing Director of Google Africa, Mr Alex Okosi; Co-founder of Red For Africa, Mr Jude Jideonwo; and Chief Growth and AI Officer for Middle East and Africa at Microsoft, Mrs Olutomiwa Williams.
The organisers said the townhall was designed to deepen discussions on Nigeria’s achievements, celebrate individuals driving positive change and improve the country’s image internationally.
The event is the second in a series of activities marking the centenary celebration of Daily Times.
Another major feature is the *Honouring the Past Exhibition*, which will showcase Nigerians who helped shape the country’s history and celebrate those contributing to its future through leadership, patriotism and service.
The exhibition will draw on Daily Times’ archives, documenting the newspaper’s 100 years of reporting and its role in Nigeria’s development.
The first phase of the DTN@100 celebration was held in Abuja on September 3, 2026, with the inaugural Times Heroes Awards under the theme, *Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future*.
Folio Group, owners of Daily Times, is also developing *The Nigerian Grand Book (Magnum Opus)*, a 700-page national souvenir using the newspaper’s archives to tell Nigeria’s story to the world.
The project forms part of efforts to showcase the country’s history, achievements and contributions of its people to a global audience.
The centenary celebration, which runs from June 1, 2026, to June 1, 2027, also seeks to honour 100 influential Nigerians, past and present, through the Times Heroes Awards.
