DTN@100 Awards: Adesina Receives Global Impact Award Package, Confirms Attendance As Keynote Speaker

The countdown to the highly anticipated DTN@100 Awards has received a major boost with the confirmation that Dr. Akiwumi A. Adesina, former President of the African Development Bank Group, will attend the landmark ceremony as Keynote Speaker. 

Adesina has also received his official Global Impact Award package, ahead of the centenary event scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the THISDAY Dome, Abuja.

The ceremony forms part of activities marking the 100th anniversary of The Daily Times, one of Nigeria’s most historic media institutions, and is expected to attract an array of distinguished personalities from government, business, diplomacy, development, media and other sectors.

The DTN@100 celebration is designed to commemorate a century of journalism while spotlighting the individuals, institutions and ideas that have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s development and global standing.

Established in 1926, The Daily Times has occupied a distinctive place in Nigeria’s media history, chronicling the country’s political, economic and social evolution across generations.

For a century, the newspaper has served not only as a platform for news and information but also as an important participant in national conversations, documenting defining moments in Nigeria’s journey and providing space for public discourse on issues of national importance.

The DTN@100 Awards will build on that legacy by bringing together prominent Nigerians and global figures whose work reflects the values of leadership, service, innovation, enterprise and nation-building.

The gathering is expected to provide an opportunity to celebrate the institution’s remarkable journey while recognising people and organisations whose contributions have generated meaningful impact in Nigeria and beyond.

The confirmation of Dr. Adesina as Keynote Speaker adds considerable weight to the centenary celebration.

A globally recognised development leader, Adesina served as President of the African Development Bank Group, where he provided leadership on some of Africa’s most pressing development challenges, including economic transformation, food security, infrastructure development, innovation and sustainable growth.

His distinguished career and longstanding advocacy for Africa’s development make his participation particularly significant at an event centred on impact, leadership and nation-building.

His keynote address is expected to provide a thought-provoking perspective on Africa’s development trajectory, the responsibilities of leadership and the importance of institutions and individuals in shaping a more prosperous and sustainable future.

His participation also reinforces the international dimension of the DTN@100 celebration, linking The Daily Times’ century-long contribution to public discourse with broader conversations about Africa’s place in the global development landscape.

The presentation of the Global Impact Award package to Adesina further underscores the significance of his contribution to Africa and the global development community.

The award recognises the broader impact of his leadership and advocacy and forms part of the DTN@100 Awards’ focus on celebrating individuals whose work has transcended professional boundaries to influence communities, institutions and nations.

Adesina joins a distinguished group of personalities and institutions expected to be recognised during the centenary celebration for their contributions to national and global development.

Another major highlight of the ceremony will be the unveiling and launch of the Nigerian Centenary Book of Changemakers –Magnum Opus, a landmark commemorative publication developed to document and preserve the stories of distinguished Nigerians and institutions whose achievements and contributions have helped shape the country’s history and development.

The publication is expected to serve as both a celebration of achievement and a historical record for future generations, capturing the stories of individuals whose leadership, enterprise, service and innovation have left an enduring mark on Nigeria.