Daily Times of Nigeria clocks 90 years

One of Nigeria’s oldest newspapers, Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), incorporated in 1925 has clocked 90 years, the owners, Folio Communications Ltd., announced on Sunday.

Folio Communications, a holding company and owners of Daily Times and six other titles, said in a statement in Lagos that the celebration would go beyond the niche, newspaper.

It noted that DTN was the the nation’s flagship in news, media human capital development and professional path driver.

The company said that the 90th anniversary was an exciting milestone in Nigeria’s media history as the activities for the celebration had been scheduled to last between June and July 2016.

It said that the Chairman, Folio Communications Ltd, Mr Fidelis Anosike, contrary to opinions, noted that the anniversary remained the celebration of Nigeria’s media industry.

The statement explained that the anniversary would be used to re-evaluate the contributions of Nigerian media practitioners to nation building and galvanisation of the more than 250 constituent ethnic nationalities.

“We are not only celebrating Daily Times of Nigeria as a newspaper, we are celebrating great Nigerians like the late Chief Adeyemo Alakija, Ernest Ikoli and Alhaji Babatunde Jose.

“The others are Dr Patrick Dele-Cole, Chief Segun Osoba, Uncle Sam Amuka, Mr Peter Pan Enaharo, Dr Yemi Ogunbuyi, Chief Innocent Oparadike and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu.

“Some of the Daily Times celebrated media professionals also include Mr Tony Momoh, Mr Edwin Baiye and Dr Onukaba Ojo, among others.

“We have quietly reinvented and reinvigorated the newspaper toward providing leadership in quality news dissemination for Nigerian youths and the political and business elite,’’ the statement quoted Anosike as saying.

“Our focus drawing from the vibrancy of the then young Nigerians that managed Daily Times in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s is Nigerian youths.

“The emphasis on youths is to help them to chart their career path with added impetus and faith in the Nigerian polity.’’

According to the statement, the repositioning of Daily Times in the coming months with skilled and quality personnel will be followed by the refloating of other titles within the stable.

It noted that the other titles include Business Times, Sunday Times and Lagos Weekend, among others.

It commended Nigerian journalists and other media practitioners for their commitment to the profession and nation building.

The statement added that the national economic and financial challenges called for understanding and suggestions to sustain the newspaper industry.

“Most of us publishers appreciate the challenging environment under which we operate and will do everything possible to maintain the industry,’’ it said.

The statement indicated that activities for the two-month celebration would be kicked off with a visit to media houses, governments and corporate organisations.

The visits by the board and mangement would be led by the publisher of Daily Times.

The two-month long 90th anniversary celebrations will also feature a world press conference where the chairman will unveil the new roadmap for the sustained growth of the newspaper conglomerate.

The anniversary celebrations will be rounded up with a dinner at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Daily Times Nigeria was incorporated on June 6, 1925 by Richard Barrow, Adeyemo Alakija and others.

They printed the first copy of The Nigerian Daily Times on June 1, 1926.