L-R: Chairman, Bolaji Okusaga; and Feyi Smith,  Organising Secretary, both of Times Heroes Award Council.

 

 

A media chief and former Executive Secretary, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), and Organising Secretary, Times Heroes Award Council, Mr. Feyi Smith, has said the present challenges facing the media industry, globally, are not enough to push the business into extinction, due to its resilience,

 

 

Smith, who is the Organising Secretary, Times Heroes Award Council, stated this at the media chat, held, in Lagos, by the Council, to unveil the final list of DTN @100 Times Heroes Awards.

 

 

He insisted that while technology, the internet of things and dwindling economies across the globe had continued to negatively impact the media industry, he however insisted that the industry has what it takes to survive those challenges.

 

 

The former NPAN, however, argued that media organisations, desirous of remaining relevant must reinvent, diversify and explore the business side of journalism.

 

 

He explained that the DTN Heroes Award, scheduled for Abuja, today, Thursday, is designed to celebrate individuals and corporates who have been part of the  success stories of the publication, and the nation’s economy at large.

 

 

“A lot of people contributed to where the publication is today, and we intend to honour some of them on Thursday,” he stated.

 

 

Some of the awardees, Smith added, include: Sam Amuka-Pemu, Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper; Aremo Segun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Chief Yemi Ogunbiyi, former MD, Daily Times and founding Chairman, Tanus Communications and Akogun Tola Adeniyi, among others.

 

 

Unveiling the final list of the awardees at the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards, the Chairman of the DTN@100 Heroes Awards Council, Mr. Bolaji Okusaga, explained that the recognition event was designed to celebrate individuals who have distinguished themselves in all fields: from politics to development, social causes and philanthropy, international relations , development financing and others.

 

 

According to Okusaga, the awards are conceived not merely as a ceremony of recognition, but as deliberate efforts at preserving national memory and celebrating the individuals and institutions whose leadership, courage, enterprise, public service and innovation have contributed meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.

 

 

“The Daily Times has spent 100 years documenting the Nigerian story. Through the DTN@100 Heroes Awards, we are taking that responsibility a step further by documenting and celebrating the people and institutions that have helped to write that story through their service, leadership, enterprise and impact,” Okusaga said.

 

 

He added that the final list reflects the breadth and diversity of contributions that have shaped the Nigerian experience, spanning governance, politics, business, public administration, technology, energy, development, climate action, community leadership, diplomacy, social impact and enterprise.