Media key to Nigeria’s growth, says Daily Times CEO

Fidelis Anosike, Chief Executive Officer of Daily Times Nigeria Plc (centre), speaks during the Daily Times @100 press conference in Abuja on Monday. Photo: Gift Habib

The Chief Executive Officer of Daily Times Nigeria Plc, Fidelis Anosike, on Monday said the media played a central role in shaping Nigeria and remains crucial to its development as the organisation marked its 100th anniversary. Speaking at the Daily Times @100 press conference in Abuja, Anosike described the centenary as a milestone for both the newspaper and the Nigerian media industry, as well as the country’s capital market history. “This is a milestone event for the legacy of the media in Nigeria and the capital market,” he said. Tracing the origins of Daily Times to 1926, Anosike said the newspaper and other media institutions were instrumental in the nationalist movement that led to Nigeria’s independence. “Media is the reason why we have Nigeria,” he said, adding that the publication was established to provide a platform that could unite people and aggregate public opinion. He also claimed that Daily Times played a role in the creation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and contributed to Nigeria’s economic development. According to him, the organisation was never conceived merely as a newspaper company, but as a broader nation-building institution. “Daily Times was not a newspaper company. It was not set up to be a newspaper company. Daily Times owns a newspaper as a product,” he said. Reflecting on its acquisition by Folio Communications in 2004, Anosike said efforts had been made to preserve the legacy of the organisation despite several challenges. “The first milestone we wanted to achieve is to make sure that Daily Times gets to 100 years, not dead, but alive,” he said. Related News PUNCH journalist, 40 others win INMA’s scholarship Tinubu’s policies’ll deliver long-term benefits, says Gbajabiamila NTA: How Nigeria struggles with insecurity narrative He said the centenary would serve as an opportunity to honour the past while shaping the future of journalism and national development. Earlier, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Grace Ike, said the anniversary underscored the newspaper’s longstanding impact on journalism and nation-building. She said Daily Times had helped shape public opinion, promote democratic values and strengthen journalism practice in Nigeria. “Daily Times has always played a historic role in shaping public opinion, promoting democratic values and strengthening the practice of journalism in Nigeria. “Its legacy remains a reference point