Osoba, Sam Amuka, Ogunbiyi to Chair Daily Times Centenary Town Hall in Lagos

Veteran journalist and former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, alongside veteran journalist and publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Olorogun Sam Amuka-Pemu, and former Managing Director of Daily Times, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, will lead the forthcoming DTN@100 Shaping the Future Town Hall and National Conversation scheduled for Lagos on November 3, 2026.

The event, organised as part of the centenary celebrations of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), is designed to stimulate national discourse on Nigeria’s achievements, honour individuals who have contributed to the country’s development and explore ways of improving Nigeria’s image internationally.

Osoba, a former Managing Director of Daily Times and a prominent figure in Nigerian journalism, will superintend over the gathering, while Amuka-Pemu and Ogunbiyi will serve as co-chairmen.

The event is expected to bring together influential figures from the media, technology, business and communications sectors to examine Nigeria’s past, assess its present realities and consider opportunities for shaping its future.

Among those expected to provide perspectives on the conversation are Mrs Olatomiwa Williams, Chief Growth and AI Officer for Africa and the Middle East at Microsoft; Mr Iyin Aboyeji, co-founder of Flutterwave and Andela and Chief Executive Officer of Future Africa; and Mr Chude Jideonwo, media personality, strategic communications expert and co-founder of RED Media.

The discussion will be anchored by Mr Cheta Nwanze, Managing Director of Folio Communications, publishers of Daily Times, and founder of SBM Research.

The Town Hall and National Conversation is the second major event in the multi-layered DTN@100 centenary celebration, which commemorates the newspaper’s 100 years of service to Nigeria.

The programme will take place at Harbour Point, 4 Wilmot Point Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.

A major highlight of the event will be the Honouring the Past Exhibition, which will draw on Daily Times’ historical archives to document important personalities, events and milestones that have shaped Nigeria over the past century.

The exhibition is also intended to celebrate individuals whose leadership, patriotism, public service and contributions to humanity continue to influence the country’s development.

Another major component of the celebration is the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards, established to recognise 100 of the most impactful Nigerians, past and present, whose contributions have helped shape the nation.

The initiative reflects the organisers’ conviction that Nigeria’s story should be told through the achievements of its people, the evolution of its institutions and the contributions of those who have worked to advance the country’s interests.

The inaugural DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards was held in Abuja on September 3, 2026, under the theme, “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future.”

The Lagos Town Hall will build on that foundation by encouraging broader conversations about Nigeria’s development trajectory and the role of journalism, technology, enterprise and responsible leadership in shaping the country’s future.

As part of its centenary initiative, Folio Group, owners of Daily Times, has also committed the newspaper’s archives to the development of The Nigerian Grand Book (Magnum Opus), described by the organisers as a 700-page national souvenir intended to tell Nigeria’s story to the world.

The publication is conceived as a major historical and cultural resource that will document the country’s evolution, celebrate its accomplishments and present a more comprehensive account of its people and national experiences to international audiences.

According to the organisers, the project is driven by the need to communicate Nigeria’s story positively and challenge perceptions that do not adequately reflect the country’s achievements, diversity and potential.

The centenary programme runs from June 1, 2026, to June 1, 2027, providing a year-long platform for commemorating Daily Times’ contribution to Nigerian journalism and national development.

The newspaper, which has played a prominent role in documenting the country’s political, economic, social and cultural history, is using the milestone to reconnect its historical legacy with contemporary discussions about Nigeria’s future.

Chairman of Folio Africa and publisher of Daily Times, Mr Fidelis Anosike, said the centenary initiatives were intended to honour outstanding Nigerians while promoting a more constructive understanding of the country’s national experience.

Through the Town Hall, the exhibition, the Times Heroes Awards and The Nigerian Grand Book, the organisers hope to establish a lasting record of the individuals, ideas and events that have influenced Nigeria over the past century.

The November 3 gathering is therefore expected to serve not only as a celebration of Daily Times’ institutional history but also as a platform for discussing how Nigeria can draw lessons from its past, encourage innovation and strengthen its standing in the international community.

With media veterans, technology entrepreneurs and communications professionals expected to contribute to the conversation, the DTN@100 initiative seeks to connect the country’s historical experience with the ideas and leadership required to shape its next century.

The announcement was signed by Anosike in his capacity as Chairman of Folio Africa and Publisher of Daily Times.