DTN@100 Heroes Awards Announce 29 Winners, Open Voting For Three Further Honours

The organising council of the Daily Times Nigeria Centenary (DTN@100) Heroes Awards has announced the winners in 29 award categories, following a nationwide public vote that attracted thousands of verified votes from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.

The awards, one of the flagship initiatives marking the centenary of Daily Times Nigeria, recognise exceptional individuals, institutions and organisations whose leadership, innovation and contributions have shaped Nigeria’s political, economic, social and corporate development.

Announcing the winners, the chairman of the DTN@100 Organising Council, Bolaji Okusaga, described the overwhelming public participation as proof of Nigerians’ desire to celebrate excellence, integrity and transformational leadership.

“The DTN@100 Heroes Awards were conceived not merely to recognise achievement, but to celebrate individuals and institutions whose leadership has created lasting value for Nigeria,” he said.

“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.”

He added that the awards represent a defining legacy of the centenary: “For one hundred years, Daily Times has chronicled Nigeria’s history and celebrated the people shaping its future.

This year’s honourees embody the excellence, resilience and transformative leadership that continue to move Nigeria forward.”

Among the headline honourees, Mr Jim Ovia, CON, founder and chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, received the Change Maker of the Century Award for his contributions to Nigeria’s financial services sector. Mrs Folorunsho Alakija received the Life and Legacy Award for her impact on entrepreneurship, philanthropy and nation-building. Senator George Akume, CON, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, received the Public Impact Person of the Decade Award.

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, CON, former president of the African Development Bank, received the Global Impact Award, while Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, was named Business Icon of the Century. Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, emerged Person of the Year.

In the political and legislative categories, Senator Hope Uzodinma, CON, Governor of Imo State, was recognised as Governor of the Decade; Alhaji Mohammed Umar Bago was named Governor of the Year; and Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda was named Politician of the Year. In the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, CFR, won the Lawmaker of the Year (House of Representatives) award, while Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada received the Lawmaker of the Year (Senate) honour.

At the federal executive level, Festus Keyamo, SAN, was honoured as Minister of the Decade; Nyesom Wike, CON, emerged Impactful Minister of the Year; and Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo received the Transformative Minister of the Year award for his reforms in public sector renewal and service delivery.

The Outstanding Governor Awards, presented across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, were won by Dr Dauda Lawal (North West), Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON (North East), Engr. Abdullahi Audu Sule (North Central), Mr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah (South East), Pastor Umo Bassey Eno (South South) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, CON (South West).

Traditional leadership was also recognised, with the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, receiving the Community Impact Award for his contributions to community development, cultural preservation and national cohesion.

In the corporate categories, Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) was named Energy Company of the Decade for delivering the Otakikpo Onshore Crude Oil Export Terminal and strengthening indigenous energy capacity. Emadeb Energy Group was named Energy Company of the Year, and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc received the Digital Company of the Decade award.

The Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) emerged Transformative Project of the Year for introducing the indigenous B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, while the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) was recognised as Government Agency of the Year.

Other winners included Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen of NigComSat (Enterprise Award), Alhaji Bashir Adeniyi, MFR, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (Public Officer of the Year), and the National Council on Climate Change (Climate Responsibility Award).

The organising council also announced that public voting remains open for three additional categories: the Financial Innovation Award, the National Development Award and the Sustainability Award. Voting opened at 4 pm on Thursday 30 July 2026 and will close at 9 am on Wednesday 5 August 2026.

The nominees for the Financial Innovation Award are OPay, Moniepoint, Paystack, PiggyVest, Flutterwave and VBank. For the National Development Award, nominees include Dr Olasupo Olusi (Bank of Industry), Dr Tony Okpanachi (Development Bank of Nigeria), Mr Charles Odii (SMEDAN) and Ms Jennifer Adighije (Niger Delta Power Holding Company). The Sustainability Award features 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 successfully nominated individuals and organisations proceeding to a public voting phase. The ten nominees receiving the highest number of verified votes will be inducted as DTN@100 Trailblazers.

Mr Okusaga encouraged continued participation: “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.”

The DTN@100 Heroes Awards and Centenary Celebration will culminate in a grand public presentation on Thursday 3 September 2026 at the THISDAY Dome in Abuja, where recipients will be formally honoured and inducted into the Nigerian Book of Life.

The council reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, credible and merit-driven process, noting that final outcomes in the remaining categories will be determined through a combination of verified public votes and its established evaluation framework.