The whole world collapsed into one large hall, the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja on Tuesday, 16th May, 2017 as thousands of Nigerians and foreigners gathered to endorse Mr. Fidelis Anosike and the management of Daily Times of Nigeria. The occasion was the Times Heroes Award organised by the newspaper to honour Nigerians who have served the country well. It was also part of activities to mark the 91st Anniversary of Daily Times.
According to Anosike, Chairman of Folio Media Group/Publisher of Daily Times, the award was to serve as reward for those who have impacted the society positively. He expressed readiness to reposition the newspaper with focus on digital publishing which he said would encompass all aspects of new and conventional media.
Although the main hall of ICC was prepared to host 1,000 guests, the surging crowd did not overwhelm the organisers as early comers who were already seated gladly allowed more chairs around their tables to accommodate more people as the night was filled with fun, glamour and ceremony. It was one huge indoor carnival.
The occasion started with a seamless and colourful red carpet protocols. Guests were also taken round the stands were they inspected with admiration, exhibitions of ‘’Nigeria; Our Heritage,’’ a book published by Folio Communications Limited as well as pages of important publications by Daily Times, some dating back 90 years. This aspect drew pleasant emotions from some high school students that attended the event.
The award cuts across all segments of the society with serving and former presidents, governors, captains of industry, publishers, the clergy and others decorated and gifted with beautiful plaques.
Among those honoured with awards that night include President Muhammadu Buhari who received the Nnamdi Azikiwe Leadership Award, President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana, Babatunde Jose Award, former president Goodluck Jonathan, Ernest Okoli Leadership Award as well as late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Industrialist and President of Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu received “Man of the Decade” Award, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Plc was “Woman of the Decade,” while Senior Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock received “Life Impact” Award.
While President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by Femi Adesina, Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity; four serving governors, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State who represented former governor of Lagos State and a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Guest Speaker, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dakwanbo, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State were there live, while governors Willie Obiano of Anambra, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and others were represented by their deputies.
Other high profile dignitaries at the occasion include former Minister for Information and Culture Tony Momoh and Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuta (both of who were part of the history of Daily Times) as well as the Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda Isaiah and Chairman, Board of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Segun Runsewe, among others.
One of the most attractive shows of the night was the large entourage of Abia State women who accompanied Governor Ikpeazu to the venue in solidarity and appreciation of what they said was the governor’s outstanding performance in office so far. The women therefore sang and danced, while expressing appreciation to Daily Times for honouring their leader.
In his speech at the occasion, the keynote speaker, former Lagos State governor a leader of the All Progressives Congress Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu called for urgent economic and political reforms in Nigeria. Tinubu who was represented at the occasion by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said Nigeria needs a holistic reform of its economy to bridge the gap of poverty in the country.
“More powers and resources need to devolve to the states. The Federal Government is taking on too much. Some of the 68 items on the exclusive legislative list should be transferred to the resident list as is in most federal constitutions,” Tinubu said.
Expressing concerns for the present and future survival of Nigeria, Tinubu said that “Where Nigeria stands today as a nation is but the child of what she did or failed to do yesterday. If we are to build towards our better future, we must have an appropriate respect for the accurate recounting of that past. This is why I am honoured to speak to you this evening as we mark the 91st birthday of a venerable institution that has been a foundation of Nigerian Journalism, The Daily Times.”
Daily Times Nigeria was incorporated on 6th June, 1925 by Richard Barrow, Adeyemo Alakija and others. They printed the first copy on 1st June 1926. The paper quickly became a popular voice of the nationalist movement.
In 1947 the London-based Daily Mirror Group headed by Cecil King bought the Daily Times. During the 1950s the Nigerian Daily Times played an important role in the process that led to independence in 1960.
The Federal Government of Nigeria acquired 60% of the Daily Times on 1st September 1975. The paper was doing well initially but government’s insistence to control its editorial content, especially during the administration of military heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha gradually led to decline of public interest in the paper as the public preferred independent newspapers with firebrand content. The newspaper was mismanaged. Workers were not paid salaries for months, leading to strikes.
Under civilian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) started the process of returning the Daily Times to private ownership. After a failed attempt at a public offer (IPO) the paper was advertised for sale in 2003. In 2004 Folio Communications owned by Fidelis Anosike was approved by the Federal Government through BPE as the preferred bidder, gaining control with 96.5% of shares.
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