DTN@100: Okosi, Jideonwo, Williams, Aboyeji to Lead Conversation on Nigeria’s Future and Global Relevance
Four prominent Nigerian professionals in media, technology and entrepreneurship will lead discussions on Nigeria’s international image and its positioning in the global socio-economic landscape at the DTN@100 Town Hall and National Conversation scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The conversation, themed Shaping the Future, will examine how Nigeria can reinvent itself, strengthen its position in global socio-economic development and address the negative perceptions that continue to shape international views of the country.
The panellists are Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa; Chude Jideonwo, Co-Founder of Red For Africa; Olatomiwa Williams, Chief Growth and AI Officer for Middle East and Africa at Microsoft; and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Nigerian technology entrepreneur and investor, recognised for co-founding Andela and Flutterwave.
The discussion will be moderated by Cheta Nwanze, Managing Director of Folio Communications and Founder of SBM Research.
Okosi is a media, entertainment and technology executive with more than two decades of experience, while Jideonwo is a lawyer, journalist and media entrepreneur.
Williams also brings more than two decades of experience in information technology, digital transformation and business leadership.
The National Conversation will explore ways to address Nigeria’s international image while examining the entrepreneurial spirit of its people, which is reflected across various sectors, including business, sports, music and the arts.
The Town Hall and National Conversation is the second in the series of activities marking the centenary of Daily Times.
The programme will also feature the Honouring the Past Exhibition, showcasing historical records and milestones documented by Daily Times during its 100 years of service to Nigeria. It will celebrate individuals who have contributed to shaping the country’s past, while the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards will recognise those making significant contributions to its future through leadership, patriotism and service to humanity.
The event will be co-chaired by Aremo Olusegun Osoba, CON, former Governor of Ogun State; Sam Amuka-Pemu, CON, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers; and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Executive Chairman of Tanus Communications.
The centenary celebration follows the inaugural DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards held in Abuja on September 3, 2026, under the theme Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future.
As part of the centenary initiative, Folio Group, owners of Daily Times, has dedicated the newspaper’s archives to developing The Nigerian Grand Book (Magnum Opus), a 700-page national souvenir intended to tell Nigeria’s story to the world and serve as a tool for improving the country’s global perception.
The initiative also informed the decision to honour 100 of the most impactful Nigerians, past and present, through the Times Heroes Awards during the centenary year, which runs from June 1, 2026, to June 1, 2027.
