DTN@100 Heroes Awards names 29 winners, opens voting for three categories

The organisers of the Daily Times Nigeria Centenary (DTN@100) Heroes Awards have announced winners in 29 award categories following the conclusion of a nationwide public voting process that attracted thousands of verified votes from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.

The awards, one of the flagship activities marking the centenary celebration of Daily Times Nigeria, recognise individuals, institutions, and organisations for outstanding leadership, innovation, and contributions to Nigeria’s political, economic, social, and corporate development.

Chairman of the DTN@100 Organising Council, Mr. Bolaji Okusaga, said the level of public participation underscored Nigerians’ commitment to celebrating excellence, integrity, and transformational leadership.

According to him, the awards were conceived not only to recognise achievement but also to celebrate individuals and institutions whose leadership has created lasting value for the country, while providing a platform for selecting states, organisations, and individuals to be featured in the Nigeria Grand Book (National Souvenir).

“The quality of nominations, the scale of public participation, and the credibility of the voting process reaffirm that Nigerians are eager to honour excellence wherever it is found,” Okusaga said.

He described the awards as one of the defining legacies of the Daily Times centenary celebration, noting that, for a century, the newspaper has chronicled Nigeria’s history while celebrating those shaping its future.

Among the major winners, the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, was honoured with the Change Maker of the Century Award, while businesswoman and philanthropist Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija received the Life and Legacy Award.

Former President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, received the Global Impact Award, while President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was honoured as Business Icon of the Century. Dame Adaora Umeoji emerged as Person of the Year.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, received the Public Impact Person of the Decade Award in recognition of his contributions to public service and national leadership.

In the political category, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State was named Governor of the Decade, while Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State emerged Governor of the Year. Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda received the Politician of the Year Award.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, won the Lawmaker of the Year Award in the House of Representatives category, while Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada received the equivalent award in the Senate category.

At the federal executive level, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, emerged Minister of the Decade. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, received the Impactful Minister of the Year Award, while the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was honoured as Transformative Minister of the Year.

The Outstanding Governor Awards across the six geopolitical zones went to Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was honoured with the Community Impact Award for his contributions to community development, cultural preservation, and national cohesion.

In the corporate category, Green Energy International Limited was named Energy Company of the Decade, while Emadeb Energy Group received the Energy Company of the Year Award. MTN Nigeria was honoured as Digital Company of the Decade.

The Trade Modernisation Project received the Transformative Project of the Year Award for its role in modernising Nigeria’s trade ecosystem through the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, while the Nigeria Revenue Service emerged Government Agency of the Year.

Other recipients include the Managing Director of NigComSat, Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen, who received the Enterprise Award; the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, who was honoured as Public Officer of the Year; and the National Council on Climate Change, which won the Climate Responsibility Award.

Meanwhile, the Organising Council announced that public voting has commenced for the three remaining categories: the Financial Innovation Award, the National Development Award, and the Sustainability Award.

Voting, which opened at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, will close at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5.

Nominees for the Financial Innovation Award are OPay, Moniepoint, Paystack, PiggyVest, Flutterwave, and VBank. Those contesting the National Development Award are Dr. Olasupo Olusi of the Bank of Industry, Dr. Tony Okpanachi of the Development Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Charles Odii of SMEDAN, and Ms. Jennifer Adighije of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

For the Sustainability Award, the nominees are ACReSAL, Bank of Industry, Seplat Energy, Sahara Group, Unilever Nigeria, and Sahara Holdings.

The council also announced the close of nominations for the DTN@100 Trailblazer Award, with all successful nominees advancing to the public voting stage. It said the 10 nominees with the highest number of verified votes would be inducted as DTN@100 Trailblazers.

Okusaga urged Nigerians to continue participating in the voting process, saying public involvement remained central to the credibility of the awards.

“These awards belong to Nigerians. Public participation is central to the credibility and integrity of the process, and we encourage Nigerians everywhere to continue participating by voting for individuals and organisations whose leadership, innovation, and service are creating meaningful impact and helping to build a stronger nation,” he said.

The DTN@100 Heroes Awards and Centenary Celebration will climax with a grand presentation ceremony on September 3 at the THISDAY Dome, Abuja, where recipients will be formally honoured and inducted into the Nigerian Book of Life, a commemorative publication celebrating individuals and institutions whose contributions have significantly shaped Nigeria’s development over the past century.