Daily Times Nigeria will mark its centenary on November 3 with a town hall, historical exhibition and awards ceremony to honour individuals and institutions that have contributed to Nigeria’s development.
The event, scheduled to hold at Harbour Point, Lagos, will feature the Shaping the Future Town Hall, Honouring the Past Exhibition and DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards under the theme, “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future.”
The organisers said the celebration would bring together policymakers, business leaders, public-sector stakeholders and other prominent Nigerians to recognise contributions to national development and encourage discussions on the country’s future.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chairman of the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards Council, Mr Bolaji Okusaga, said the centenary offered an opportunity to connect the lessons of Nigeria’s history with the ambitions of future generations.
“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.
“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 outstanding individuals and institutions whose leadership, decisions and achievements have contributed to Nigeria’s development, including building successful businesses, creating opportunities, delivering public service and advancing national progress.
A key feature of the initiative is The Nigerian Grand Book, National Book of Changemakers, a publication developed over 15 years and informed by Daily Times’ century-long archive.
Featuring a foreword by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the book will document the contributions and achievements of distinguished Nigerians, with each award recipient receiving a dedicated page to preserve their story for future generations.
The policy-focused town hall will address Nigeria’s development priorities, including informal employment, energy access, infrastructure, productive livelihoods and the conditions required to attract investment and support sustainable economic growth.
The Honouring the Past Exhibition will showcase aspects of Nigeria’s national history through the Daily Times archive, highlighting the people, events and milestones that have shaped the country over the past century.
The Lagos event follows an earlier gathering held on September 3, 2026, at ThisDay Dome, Abuja, which attracted prominent national figures, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who represented President Tinubu; 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.
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 celebrating distinguished Nigerians, the DTN@100 initiative seeks to preserve national memory, strengthen public appreciation of the individuals and institutions behind the country’s progress, and inspire future changemakers.
The event will also provide opportunities for corporate participation, while the exhibition sponsorship model is designed to support school attendance and encourage young Nigerians to engage with the nation’s history.
As Daily Times enters its second century, the celebration will serve as a tribute to the newspaper’s enduring role in documenting Nigeria’s political, economic, social and cultural journey, while providing a platform for dialogue on the leadership, partnerships and collective action needed to shape the country’s future.
