Independent Newspapers to Unveil Awards Nominees Monday

The shortlist of nominees for the Independent Silver Jubilee Awards is billed to be released on Monday, February 9, 2026.

Chairman of the awards committee, Yemi Adebisi, said in a statement that the nomination exercise, which opened on January 15, 2026, closed on January 31, 2026.

“We wish to inform the general public that the announcement of the nominees for the Independent Silver Jubilee Awards will be announced on Monday, February 9, 2026.

“While expressing our sincere appreciation to everyone that participated in the nomination exercise, we also wish to inform you that shortly after the announcement of nominees, voting exercise will commence online.

“The final award winners will be celebrated on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.”

The ceremony, under the Royal Father of the Day, His Imperial Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Arusa 1, will be broadcast live by Channels Television and News Central Television. The theme of this year’s awards is ‘Gamechanger: Breaking Barriers, Shaping Tomorrow.’

It would be recalled that the award committee held a press conference on January 14, 2026, at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, where the programmes of the annual ceremony were unveiled. 

In a significant departure from previous editions, members of the public will participate in the voting process. Nominations will be assessed by the Board of Editors, an independent jury, and other respected Nigerians to ensure credibility, fairness, and transparency.

This year’s awards will feature about 25 categories with three to five nominees per category, spanning business, governance, and other key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Notable categories include Man of the Year; Financial Sector Regulator of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, among others.