Daily Times Celebrates 100 Years with Times Heroes Awards and National Policy Town Hall in Lagos

Times Heroes Awards took centre stage on October 24, 2026 as Daily Times marked its historic centenary with a glittering ceremony and a forward‑looking National Policy Town Hall in Lagos. The twin events, hosted at the newly refurbished Eko Convention Centre, brought together veteran journalists, emerging media talent, policymakers, and civil‑society leaders from across Africa to celebrate a century of press freedom and to chart the next decade of national development.

Centenary celebrations: a look back and a vision forward

The Daily Times, founded in 1926, has been a cornerstone of Nigerian journalism, surviving colonial rule, independence, military coups and the digital revolution. This year’s centenary programme honoured that legacy while positioning the newspaper as a catalyst for contemporary policy discourse. The opening segment featured a short documentary tracing the paper’s evolution, narrated by veteran broadcaster Niyi Awofeso, and underscored the role of a free press in nation‑building.

Following the tribute, the Times Heroes Awards recognised 15 individuals and organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to truth‑telling, investigative reporting, and community impact. Winners ranged from a Lagos‑based investigative team that exposed a cross‑border smuggling ring, to a Ghanaian digital media startup that amplified youth voices on climate change. The diversity of honourees reflected the newspaper’s pan‑African outlook and its belief that journalism thrives on cross‑border collaboration.

Highlights from the Times Heroes Awards ceremony

The awards night was a blend of solemnity and celebration. Each category—Investigative Reporting, Community Journalism, Digital Innovation, and Lifetime Achievement—was introduced by a short video montage of the nominees’ work, allowing the audience to appreciate the depth of impact. Notable moments included:

• Investigative Reporting Award: The Daily Times investigative team, led by Adeyemi Olatunji, for their expose on illicit oil allocations that led to parliamentary hearings.
• Community Journalism Award: Mercy Njeri from Kenya’s “Voices of the Rift” for her grassroots reporting on water scarcity.
• Digital Innovation Award: South Africa’s “StoryPulse” platform, which uses AI to translate local languages in real time.
• Lifetime Achievement: Nigerian media veteran Chinwe Okafor, celebrated for three decades of mentorship.

Each winner received a bespoke crystal trophy engraved with the Daily Times’ iconic crest, and a grant to support future projects. The ceremony concluded with a performance by Afro‑beat sensation Tiwa Savage, whose song “Century” resonated with the theme of perseverance.

National Policy Town Hall: shaping Nigeria’s agenda for 2027 and beyond

Parallel to the awards, the National Policy Town Hall convened over 200 stakeholders, including ministers, legislators, think‑tanks, and youth leaders from Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The forum’s agenda focused on three priority areas identified by the Daily Times editorial board: media freedom, digital economy, and climate‑smart agriculture.

Key sessions included:

1. Media Freedom & Regulation: A panel chaired by former Minister of Information, Dr. Funke Akindele, debated the upcoming Media Bill, emphasizing safeguards for investigative journalism and the need for an independent press council.
2. Digital Economy & Fintech Innovation: Representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria, fintech hubs in Nairobi and Lagos, and the African Development Bank explored regulatory sandboxes and cross‑border payment corridors.
3. Climate‑Smart Agriculture: Agronomists from Ghana and Ethiopia presented low‑cost irrigation models, while Nigerian farmers shared success stories of solar‑powered storage.

Outcomes of the town hall were captured in a concise policy brief titled “Blueprint for a Resilient Nigeria 2027‑2032,” which will be circulated to the Presidency, National Assembly, and regional economic communities. The brief calls for a multi‑stakeholder task force to monitor implementation, ensuring that the dialogue translates into actionable reforms.

Why the centenary matters for African media

Daily Times’ centenary is more than a milestone for a single newspaper; it signals a broader renaissance in African journalism. Over the past decade, the continent has witnessed a surge in digital newsrooms, citizen‑generated content, and cross‑border collaborations. By honouring excellence through the Times Heroes Awards, the Daily Times reinforces standards of verification, ethics, and impact that are essential in an era of misinformation.

Moreover, the integration of a policy town hall demonstrates how media can serve as a bridge between the public and decision‑makers. In Nigeria, where policy formulation often suffers from limited public input, such platforms can democratise the agenda‑setting process. The event’s inclusive format—featuring voices from Nigeria’s 36 states and from across the continent—offers a template for other media houses seeking to amplify civic participation.

What’s next for Daily Times and its partners?

Looking ahead, the Daily Times announced three initiatives that will extend the centenary momentum into 2027:

• Mentorship Programme: A twelve‑month mentorship scheme pairing award‑winning journalists with early‑career reporters from under‑served regions, funded by a partnership with the African Media Foundation.
• Digital Archive Project: An open‑access digital repository of the newspaper’s historic editions, powered by a collaboration with the University of Lagos Library and UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme.
• Policy Innovation Lab: A think‑tank hub in Lagos that will host quarterly round‑tables on emerging issues such as data privacy, renewable energy, and youth unemployment.

These initiatives aim to cement Daily Times’ role as a catalyst for both journalistic excellence and policy innovation, ensuring that the centenary is not merely a celebration of the past but a launchpad for future impact.

FAQ

Q: When and where will the Times Heroes Awards ceremony be held next year?
A: The Daily Times plans to rotate the ceremony among major Nigerian cities; the 2027 edition is slated for Abuja’s International Conference Centre in March.

Q: How can journalists apply for the mentorship programme?
A: Applications open in January 2027 on the Daily Times website; candidates must submit a portfolio and a brief proposal outlining their development goals.

Q: Where can I access the “Blueprint for a Resilient Nigeria 2027‑2032” brief?
A: The policy brief will be downloadable from the Daily Times’ official portal and will also be shared with the Ministry of Information and relevant parliamentary committees.

For full coverage of the centenary events, see the original report on Pulse.ng.

Related Reading

• Nollywood movies and actors shaping African film