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Business mogul and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote; advertising icon, Dr Biodun Shobanjo; Chairman of THISDAY Newspapers and ARISE News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; and Founder of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, will today lead a gathering of prominent Nigerians in Lagos for the DTN@100 Shaping the Future Town Hall and National Conversation, organised as part of activities marking the centenary of Daily Times of Nigeria.
The event, scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, will bring together leading figures in business, media, banking, technology and public service to examine Nigeria’s global image and explore how the country’s achievements in different fields can be harnessed to reshape international perceptions and strengthen its standing among nations.
The conversation will be co-chaired by former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu; and Executive Chairman of Tanus Communications, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, three distinguished figures whose contributions to journalism, publishing and public affairs have spanned several decades.
Central to the discussions will be the perceived disconnect between Nigeria’s international image and the accomplishments of its citizens, many of whom have continued to break new ground in technology, medicine, sports, music, entrepreneurship and other fields despite the country’s economic and developmental challenges.
The organisers said the national conversation was conceived to provide a platform for examining the factors responsible for Nigeria’s negative international perception and identifying practical measures through which government, the private sector, the media and other stakeholders could promote a more balanced and positive national narrative.
A major highlight of the event will be the presentation of special centenary awards to distinguished Nigerians whose contributions to national development, enterprise, leadership and public service have helped shape the country’s history and contemporary society.
Dangote, Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, will receive the Centenary Excellence Award in recognition of his contributions to industrial development and entrepreneurship, while Shobanjo, Chairman of Troika Group and Insight Publicis, will be honoured with the Trailblazer of the Century Award for his pioneering role in Nigeria’s advertising and marketing communications industry.
Obaigbena will receive the Media Icon of the Decade Award in recognition of his contributions to journalism and broadcasting, while Ovia will be presented with the Changemaker of the Century Award for his role in banking, financial services and enterprise development.
Other personalities listed for recognition include Chairman of The Sun Newspapers, Neya Orji Kalu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; senior police officer, Jimi Disu; and Founder and Chairman of NOVA Bank, Phillips Oduoza, among others.
The event will also feature contributions from prominent technology and communications professionals, including Managing Director of Google Africa, Alex Okosi; Co-founder of RED | For Africa, Jude Jideonwo; and Microsoft’s Chief Growth and AI Officer for the Middle East and Africa, Olutomiwa Williams.
The speakers are expected to examine how innovation, digital technology, artificial intelligence, strategic communication and private-sector leadership can help project Nigeria’s achievements, address longstanding reputational challenges and create new opportunities for economic growth and international engagement.
The Town Hall and National Conversation is the second major component of the multi-layered DTN@100 Centenary Celebration, designed to commemorate 100 years of Daily Times’ contributions to Nigerian journalism, national discourse and the documentation of the country’s history.
The centenary programme, which runs from June 1, 2026, to 2027, is built around the theme, Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future, reflecting the organisers’ intention to celebrate individuals and institutions that contributed to Nigeria’s development while encouraging a new generation of leaders and innovators to shape its future.
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Another component of the celebration is the Honouring the Past Exhibition, which will showcase the contributions of prominent Nigerians whose achievements and activities were documented in the pages of Daily Times during its century of publication.
Drawing from the newspaper’s extensive archives, the exhibition will revisit important personalities, milestones and events that helped define Nigeria’s political, economic, social and cultural evolution.
The organisers said the exhibition would not only celebrate the achievements of the past but also provide historical context for understanding the country’s present challenges and future opportunities.
The centenary celebrations formally commenced with the inaugural DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards held in Abuja on September 3, 2026, under the central theme, Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future.
The awards initiative was conceived to recognise 100 of Nigeria’s most impactful personalities, past and present, whose leadership, patriotism, innovation and service to humanity have contributed to national development.
Beyond the awards and exhibition, Folio Group, owners of Daily Times, has also dedicated the newspaper’s historical archives to the development of The Nigerian Grand Book (Magnum Opus), a proposed 700-page national souvenir intended to present an authentic account of Nigeria’s history, achievements and contributions to the world.
The publication is envisioned as a flagship historical and cultural product that will draw on a century of Daily Times’ reportage to tell Nigeria’s story from a Nigerian perspective, highlighting the individuals, institutions and defining events that have shaped the nation.
According to the organisers, the initiative is informed by the conviction that Nigeria’s international reputation should reflect not only its challenges but also the accomplishments, resilience, creativity and contributions of its citizens to global development.
The Grand Book is expected to serve as a reference publication and an instrument for promoting a better understanding of Nigeria’s historical journey, national identity and development potential.
Chairman of Folio Group, Fidelis Anosike, is leading the centenary initiative, which seeks to leverage the newspaper’s historical legacy to promote national pride, celebrate excellence and stimulate conversations about Nigeria’s future.
The organisers maintained that the centenary was designed to go beyond commemorating the longevity of Daily Times by using its historical records and national influence to encourage a more constructive conversation about Nigeria’s place in the world.
They expressed optimism that the Lagos gathering would generate recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s global image, promoting its achievements and encouraging collaboration among government, business leaders, the media and other stakeholders in shaping the country’s future.
