AS part of activities to mark its 91st anniversary, the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) will give “The Times Heroes Award” to eminent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various endeavours and whose activities imparted positively on peoples’ lives.
Those to be honoured on the occasion slated for May 16, 2017 in Abuja are President Muhammadu Buhari, who will be given Nnamdi Azikiwe Leadership Award, President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana, with the Babatunde Jose Leadership Award and former President Goodluck Jonathan, who will be honoured with Ernest Okoli Leadership Award.
Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will on the occasion be announced as the Daily Times man of the year, with Senate President Bukola Saraki bagging the Politician of the year award.
Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, along with seven other governors are also billed to receive the good governance award on the occasion.
The Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of the paper, Fedelis Anosike, told a press conference in Abuja that the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act in the country is not up to one per cent.
While urging media practitioners to take up government and the society on its better implementation, Anosike, said the Act is yet to be exploited and that the media needs more information on government activities.
The Daily Times Editor, who was briefing newsmen ahead of the paper’s 91st anniversary celebration, said the Federal Government has not done well in the implementation of the FoI Act, adding that it is the media that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power.
“The media needs information on the way the country is being governed and information is necessary in achieving this.
“We need more dynamism in terms of releasing information to the media. All information has to be made open to the media,” he said and assured that Daily Times will, in the next 24 months become number one newspaper in the country.
Anosike said, in line with the theme of the celebration, Daily Times will launch a campaign for the teaching of history in schools with a program that will feature exhibitions to showcase the rich culture in the country’s history.
He said, the anniversary celebration would be flagged off with a national and historic exhibition themed “Nigeria through the times” on May 16 in Abuja and June 1st to 6th in Lagos, adding that the exhibition will bring back memories, the vision and struggles of founding fathers who laboured for the independence of the country.