•Tinubu, Momoh, Amuka, others celebrate paper

By Bonaventure Melah

The world converged on the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja last Tuesday to celebrate Daily Times of Nigeria.

Daily Times Award: From right, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers Sam Amuka presenting Daily Times Award to Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Representative of George Weah of Liberia, Hon Munah Pelhano-Youngblood while Publisher of Daily Times , Mr. Fidelis Anosike looks on during Daily Times Nigeria @ 91th award held in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

The occasion was the Times Heroes Award organised by the newspaper to honour Nigerians, who have served the country very well. It was also part of the activities scheduled to mark the 91st anniversary of Daily Times.

According to Mr. Fidelis  Anosike, Chairman of Folio Media Group/Publisher of Daily Times, the award was to serve as a reward for those who have impacted the society positively.

He expressed readiness to reposition the newspaper with a focus on digital publishing which he said would encompass all aspects of new and conventional media.

Although the main hall of the 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. It was a night of fun, glamour, and pageantry. It was one huge indoor carnival.

The occasion started with a seamless and colourful red carpet protocols. Guests were also taken around the stands where 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 with some dating  90 years back. This aspect drew pleasant emotions from some high school students who 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 being honoured.

Among those honoured were President Muhammadu Buhari, who received the Nnamdi Azikiwe Leadership Award, President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana, Babatunde Jose Award, former President Goodluck Jonathan who was honoured with the Ernest Okoli Leadership Award as well as late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Industrialist and President of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu received the  “Man of the Decade” award, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Plc was bestowed with the “Woman of the Decade,” award while Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock received “Life Impact” award.

President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr.  Femi Adesina. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State represented former governor of Lagos State and  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 present, while governors Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebb State  were represented by their deputies.

Other high profile dignitaries at the occasion include former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh and Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, 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.

In his speech at the occasion, the Keynote Speaker, 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.

He said: “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.

“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  June 6, 1925 by Richard Barrow, Adeyemo Alakija and others. They printed the first copy on 1 June 1, 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 on controlling its editorial content led to declining 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.

During the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) started the process of returning the Daily Times to private ownership. After a failed attempt 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 percent of shares.