Jim Ovia, Dangote, Adesina, Adaora Umeoji, Keyamo Lead DTN@100 Heroes Awards Winners As Fresh Public Voting Opens

• DTN@100 Heroes Awards announces winners in 29 categories after nationwide public voting involving thousands of verified voters across Nigeria and the diaspora.

• Jim Ovia, Aliko Dangote, Akinwumi Adesina, Adaora Umeoji, Festus Keyamo, George Akume and Folorunsho Alakija headline the list of distinguished recipients honoured for excellence and national impact.

• Organisers open fresh public voting for the Financial Innovation, National Development and Sustainability Awards, while Trailblazer Award nominees proceed to the next voting phase.

• Grand centenary celebration and investiture ceremony scheduled for September 3 in Abuja, where winners will be inducted into the Nigerian Book of Life.

August 01, () — The Organising Council of the Daily Times Nigeria Centenary (DTN@100) Heroes Awards has announced winners in 29 award categories, recognising some of Nigeria’s most accomplished business leaders, public officials, corporate organisations and institutions for their outstanding contributions to national development.

The winners emerged after a nationwide public voting exercise that attracted thousands of verified votes from Nigerians across the country and the diaspora, underscoring what organisers described as overwhelming public confidence in the credibility of the awards process.

The announcement also marked the commencement of fresh public voting for three remaining award categories—Financial Innovation, National Development and Sustainability—as activities continue towards the grand finale of the Daily Times Nigeria centenary celebration.

Speaking while unveiling the winners, the Chairman of the DTN@100 Organising Council, Bolaji Okusaga, said the quality of nominations and the scale of participation reflected Nigerians’ desire to celebrate integrity, innovation, excellence and transformational leadership.

According to him, the awards were conceived not only to recognise exceptional accomplishments but also to identify individuals, organisations and institutions whose enduring contributions have helped shape Nigeria’s political, economic and social development.

He explained that the awards would also serve as a major pipeline for selecting personalities and institutions to be featured in the Nigeria Grand Book (National Souvenir).

“The DTN@100 Heroes Awards were conceived not merely to recognise achievement, but to celebrate individuals and institutions whose leadership has created lasting value for Nigeria and provide a critical pipeline to select states, organisations and individuals to be featured in the Nigeria Grand Book. The quality of nominations, the scale of public participation and the credibility of the voting process reaffirm that Nigerians are eager to honour excellence wherever it is found”, Okusaga stated.

He added that the awards remain one of the defining legacies of the Daily Times centenary celebration.

“For one hundred years, Daily Times has chronicled Nigeria’s history and celebrated the people shaping its future. The DTN@100 Heroes Awards continue that legacy by spotlighting individuals and institutions whose vision, courage and impact have advanced national development and inspired generations. This year’s honourees embody the excellence, resilience and transformative leadership that continue to move Nigeria forward”, he added.

Jim Ovia, Dangote, Adesina, Adaora Umeoji Top Honourees

Leading this year’s list of award recipients is Jim Ovia, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, who received the prestigious Change Maker of the Century Award for his transformative contributions to Nigeria’s banking industry, financial inclusion and national development.

Africa’s foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, was honoured as Business Icon of the Century, while former President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, received the Global Impact Award for his outstanding contributions to Africa’s economic transformation.

The Life and Legacy Award went to renowned businesswoman and philanthropist Mrs Folorunsho Alakija for her enduring impact on entrepreneurship, philanthropy and nation-building.

Also among the headline recipients was Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, who emerged Person of the Year.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, received the Public Impact Person of the Decade Award in recognition of his distinguished record in public service and national leadership.

Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers Receive Recognition

In the political category, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, emerged Governor of the Decade, while Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, received the Governor of the Year Award.

Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda was honoured as Politician of the Year.

Within the National Assembly, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, won the Lawmaker of the Year (House of Representatives) award, while Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada emerged Lawmaker of the Year (Senate).

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was named Minister of the Decade in recognition of his contributions to governance and public service.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, received the Impactful Minister of the Year Award, while Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was honoured as Transformative Minister of the Year for driving reforms in public administration and service delivery.

Outstanding Governor Awards across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones went to Dauda Lawal (North-West), Bala Mohammed (North-East), Abdullahi Sule (North-Central), Peter Mbah (South-East), Umo Eno (South-South) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (South-West).

Traditional ruler, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was honoured with the Community Impact Award for promoting cultural preservation, community development and national unity.

Corporate Excellence Also Rewarded

The corporate category celebrated organisations driving innovation and economic growth across critical sectors.

Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) received the Energy Company of the Decade Award for its landmark contributions to Nigeria’s energy industry, particularly the delivery of the Otakikpo Onshore Crude Oil Export Terminal.

Emadeb Energy Group emerged Energy Company of the Year, while MTN Nigeria Communications Plc was recognised as Digital Company of the Decade.

The Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) won the Transformative Project of the Year Award for deploying the indigenous B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, widely regarded as a major milestone in modernising Nigeria’s customs administration and facilitating international trade.

The Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) received the Government Agency of the Year Award.

Other notable recipients include Jane Egerton-Idehen of NigComSat, who received the Enterprise Award, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, who emerged Public Officer of the Year, and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), which won the Climate Responsibility Award.

Fresh Voting Begins for Remaining Categories

The Organising Council announced that public voting has commenced for the Financial Innovation Award, National Development Award and Sustainability Award, with voting expected to close at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

Nominees for the Financial Innovation Award include OPay, Moniepoint, Paystack, PiggyVest, Flutterwave and VBank.

Those competing for the National Development Award are Dr. Olasupo Olusi (Bank of Industry), Dr. Tony Okpanachi (Development Bank of Nigeria), Charles Odii (SMEDAN) and Jennifer Adighije (Niger Delta Power Holding Company).

For the Sustainability Award, nominees are ACReSAL, Bank of Industry, Seplat Energy, Sahara Group, Unilever Nigeria and Sahara Holdings.

The Council also confirmed that nominations for the DTN@100 Trailblazer Award have closed, with all qualified nominees advancing to public voting. The ten candidates with the highest number of verified votes will be inducted as DTN@100 Trailblazers.

Okusaga urged Nigerians to sustain their participation in the remaining voting process, stressing that public involvement remains central to the credibility and integrity of the awards.

“These awards belong to Nigerians. Public participation is central to the credibility and integrity of the process, and we encourage Nigerians everywhere to continue participating by voting for individuals and organisations whose leadership, innovation and service are creating meaningful impact and helping to build a stronger nation,” he said.

Grand Finale Holds September 3

The DTN@100 Heroes Awards and Centenary Celebration will climax on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the THISDAY Dome, Abuja, where recipients will be formally decorated and inducted into the Nigerian Book of Life—a commemorative publication celebrating individuals and institutions whose leadership, innovation and enduring contributions have significantly shaped Nigeria over the past century.

The Organising Council reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, credible and merit-driven selection process, noting that while public voting remains a key component of the awards, final outcomes in the remaining categories will be determined through a combination of verified public votes and the Council’s established evaluation framework.