Follow Us on Google
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
The Times Heroes Awards (THA) Council has unveiled 90 individuals and institutions nominated by Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora for its prestigious awards, which form a key part of the centenary celebrations of the Daily Times, Nigeria’s oldest newspaper. The awards ceremony is scheduled for September 3, 2026.
The nominees were announced on Thursday at a press conference held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The categories include DTN@100 Man of the Century, Woman of the Century, Africa Rising Award, Global Icon, Climate Responsibility, Social Impact, Community Development, Bank of the Year, Manufacturing Company of the Year, Outstanding Governors and Ministers, and 35 others.
Chairman of the Times Heroes Awards Council, Mr. Bolaji Okusaga, said the awards were designed to celebrate Nigerians and institutions whose contributions have shaped the nation’s history over the past 100 years.
“Daily Times has been in the business of not just news gathering, but also serving as the conscience of the nation,” Okusaga said. He noted that the newspaper played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s journey from colonial rule to independence and has continued to document the country’s development.
He added that the awards would be conducted through a transparent, independent selection process aligned with global best practices.
“We believe that the Times Heroes Awards will be worthy of its name. This is set to be different. It will ensure independence, conform with global best practices and recognise those who truly deserve the honour, not serve as a platform for monetisation,” Okusaga declared.
Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Bonaventure Melah, said the initiative would honour outstanding individuals, institutions, companies and other entities that have made positive impacts through quality leadership and service to communities and the nation.
Melah emphasised that the entire process was being handled with utmost transparency to make the awards the most credible in Nigeria’s history.
One of the highlights is the DTN@100 Outstanding Journalist of the Year category, which carries a ₦10 million cash prize. The winner will be selected by journalists themselves through voting on the dedicated website, and the cheque will be presented at the awards ceremony.
Melah revealed that high-profile nominees include President John Mahama of Ghana, the President of Zambia, former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Zenith Bank CEO, Senator Ali Ndume, and several serving and former leaders, among the over 86 names shortlisted across the 35 categories.
He announced that the nomination phase had closed and voting was now open for three weeks on www.timesheroesawards.com. Final winners will be announced after the voting period.
The centenary celebrations will also feature the unveiling of The Nigerian Grand Book, a commemorative publication documenting Nigeria’s history through the archives of the Daily Times and celebrating personalities who have positively projected the country.
Melah described the centenary as a milestone that would reconnect Nigerians with their shared history, values and democratic ideals. He said veterans of the Daily Times, including Babatunde Jose, Segun Osoba and Onyema Ugochukwu, would be specially honoured.
In a side interview, Melah praised the management of Folio Communications Limited, publishers of the Daily Times, for preserving the iconic brand. He recalled that the newspaper had become moribund due to government mismanagement before it was privatised. Folio acquired it in 2006 after a competitive bidding process, despite subsequent legal challenges.
The Daily Times began publication on June 1, 1926, making 2026 its centenary year.
