Daily Times to honour Nigerian changemakers at centenary awards

Daily Times Nigeria will honour distinguished Nigerians and institutions whose contributions have shaped the country’s development as part of activities marking its 100th anniversary on November 3 in Lagos.

The centenary celebration, scheduled to be held at Harbour Point, Lagos, will feature the Shaping the Future Town Hall, Honouring the Past Exhibition and DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards.

Organised under the theme, “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future,” the event is expected to bring together policymakers, business leaders, public-sector stakeholders and other prominent Nigerians to celebrate the country’s history and discuss its development priorities.

The Chairman of the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards Council, Bolaji Okusaga, said the celebration would provide an opportunity to recognise individuals and institutions whose contributions have influenced Nigeria’s development while inspiring future generations.

Okusaga said, “As Daily Times celebrates 100 years of documenting Nigeria’s journey, the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards is an opportunity to honour the people and institutions whose vision, courage and contributions have helped shape our nation.

“This centenary is not just about reflecting on our history; it is about preserving the lessons of our past, recognising the achievements of the present, and inspiring a new generation to build a more prosperous and inclusive Nigeria.”

He added that the town hall, exhibition and awards would encourage conversations about the country’s future and promote a renewed commitment to national development.

“Through the Town Hall, the exhibition and the Times Heroes Awards, we aim to spark meaningful conversations, celebrate enduring legacies and renew our collective commitment to shaping the future we want,” he said.

The Times Heroes Awards will recognise individuals and institutions whose leadership, enterprise, public service and innovations have contributed to Nigeria’s progress, including those who have created economic opportunities and supported national development.

A major feature of the celebration will be the unveiling of The Nigerian Grand Book, National Book of Changemakers, a publication developed over 15 years using Daily Times’ century-long archive.

The book, which features a foreword by President Bola Tinubu, will document the achievements and contributions of distinguished Nigerians. Each award recipient will have a dedicated page preserving their story for future generations.

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The programme will also feature a policy-focused town hall to examine Nigeria’s development challenges and identify practical measures to unlock the country’s potential.

Discussions will centre on informal employment, energy access, infrastructure, productive livelihoods and the conditions required to attract investment and sustain economic growth.

The Honouring the Past Exhibition will draw on the newspaper’s archive to showcase significant people, events and milestones in Nigeria’s history over the past century.

The Lagos event follows an earlier centenary gathering held on September 3, 2026, at ThisDay Dome, Abuja, which attracted prominent national figures.

Those in attendance included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who represented Tinubu; former President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who delivered the keynote address and received an award; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; and Governors Abdullahi Sule, Umar Bago and Dauda Lawal of Nasarawa, Niger and Zamfara states, respectively.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, were also among the dignitaries at the Abuja event.

Beyond recognising prominent Nigerians, the DTN@100 initiative seeks to preserve the country’s history, highlight the contributions of individuals and institutions to national development, and inspire emerging leaders.

The organisers said the initiative would also provide opportunities for corporate participation, with the exhibition sponsorship model designed to support school attendance and encourage young Nigerians to learn about the country’s history.

Founded in 1926, Daily Times has documented Nigeria’s political, economic, social and cultural evolution.

The centenary celebration is intended to reflect on that legacy while encouraging conversations about the leadership, partnerships and collective action needed to shape the country’s future.