DTN@100 Heroes Awards Honour National Devt, Sustainability, Social Impact, National Global Champion Award Recipients

The Organising Council of the Daily Times Nigeria Centenary (DTN@100) Heroes Awards has announced the recipients of four of its prestigious special honours, recognising exceptional individuals and institutions whose visionary leadership, innovation and transformational contributions continue to advance Nigeria’s economic growth, environmental sustainability, social development and global competitiveness.

The latest announcement forms part of activities leading to the DTN@100 Conference, Grand Book Unveiling and Times Heroes Awards, a landmark event commemorating the centenary of Daily Times Nigeria and celebrating a century of impactful journalism, national discourse and nation-building.

This year’s special honours recognise outstanding achievements in the categories of National Global Champion Award, National Development Award, Sustainability Award and Social Impact Award, celebrating recipients whose work continues to create measurable impact across Nigeria and beyond.

Announcing the recipients, Chairman of the DTN@100 Organising Council, Bolaji Okusaga, said the awards reflect the Council’s commitment to recognising individuals and institutions whose leadership has delivered lasting value to society and inspired national progress.

“The DTN@100 Heroes Awards were conceived to celebrate exceptional leadership, innovation and service that have contributed meaningfully to Nigeria’s development over the past century while inspiring the country’s future. These honours recognise individuals and institutions whose achievements extend beyond personal success to creating lasting impact on communities, industries and the nation as a whole,” he said.

He added that the Awards have become one of the defining legacies of the Daily Times centenary celebrations, preserving and celebrating the stories of outstanding Nigerians and institutions whose contributions continue to shape the country’s development trajectory.

The Organising Council announced that Dr Mahmoud Ahmadu, OON, President of the Nigeria Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce (NAGCC), was honoured with the National Global Champion Award for his exceptional leadership in advancing Nigeria’s global economic engagement and strengthening strategic trade and investment partnerships between Nigeria and the Arabian Gulf region.

Through visionary leadership, enterprise promotion and economic diplomacy, he has expanded opportunities for cross-border investment, enhanced Nigeria’s international competitiveness and contributed significantly to positioning the country as a preferred destination for global commerce and sustainable economic development.

The National Development Award was presented to Dr Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry (BOI), for his outstanding leadership in driving industrialisation, enterprise development, job creation and inclusive economic growth.

Under his leadership, the Bank of Industry has continued to expand access to finance for businesses, strengthen local manufacturing, empower entrepreneurs and accelerate Nigeria’s industrial transformation, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s foremost development finance institutions.

The Organising Council also recognised Mr Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Programme, with the DTN@100 Sustainability Award for his outstanding leadership in driving one of Nigeria’s most ambitious climate-resilience and landscape-restoration initiatives. Under his stewardship, the World Bank-supported programme has strengthened environmental sustainability, restored degraded ecosystems, enhanced agricultural resilience, and improved livelihoods across participating states, positioning ACReSAL as a model for sustainable development.

The Council also honoured Professor Oyelaran Oyeyinka with the Social Impact Award, recognising his remarkable contributions to public policy, innovation, knowledge development and inclusive socio-economic transformation across Africa.

For decades, Professor Oyeyinka has distinguished himself through exemplary service in academia, international development and policy advisory, influencing development thinking, strengthening institutions and advancing inclusive growth across the continent.
According to Okusaga, the selection process reflected the high standards that have come to define the DTN@100 Heroes Awards.

“Our Awards Board undertook a rigorous and independent assessment of nominees, focusing on measurable impact, transformational leadership, innovation and enduring contributions to national development. The recipients announced today exemplify excellence, integrity and visionary leadership, and their achievements deserve national recognition,” he added.

The Organising Council also announced that public voting remains open for the Financial Innovation Award, encouraging Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to participate in recognising organisations that are redefining financial innovation and expanding access to financial services.

Okusaga emphasised that public participation remains an important pillar of the awards process. “These awards belong to Nigerians. Public participation reinforces the credibility, inclusiveness and national ownership of this initiative. We therefore encourage citizens to continue supporting individuals and organisations whose work is creating meaningful impact and contributing to Nigeria’s progress.”
The DTN@100 Conference, Grand Book Unveiling and Times Heroes Awards will culminate in a grand public presentation on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the THISDAY Dome, Central Business District, Abuja, where award recipients will be formally honoured before an audience of national leaders, policymakers, captains of industry, diplomats, development partners and other distinguished stakeholders.

The event will also feature the unveiling of the Nigeria Grand Book, a landmark commemorative publication documenting the remarkable achievements of outstanding personalities, institutions and organisations whose contributions have shaped Nigeria’s political, economic, social and developmental journey over the past century.