Mr Fidelis Anosike, Group Chief Executive Officer of Folio Communications Limited, said knowledge and innovation remained critical to Nigeria’s development.
He made this known on Monday as the Daily Times commenced activities marking its 100th anniversary.
According to him, the development of any nation depends largely on the knowledge and enlightenment of its citizens.
“The only way a country can change is when its citizens are knowledgeable because from knowledge comes wisdom,” he said.
Anosike said his decision to acquire Daily Times in 2024 was influenced by the newspaper’s historical significance and his understanding of the role of the media in societal development.
“I bought Daily Times because it is the oldest newspaper in Nigeria and because I understood what Nigeria was lacking.
“I have had the opportunity to understand what media can do in the development of a society,” he said.
Anosike said journalism had contributed to the growth of institutions and businesses in Nigeria, adding that journalists were not always adequately rewarded for their contributions.
He added that Daily Times played a role in the development of Nigeria’s capital market and remained a part of the country’s media history.
Anosike also urged journalists to embrace technological advancement and continuous learning, particularly in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.
“The digital media helps you, the same content that was printed on paper can now be distributed digitally.
” Technology and artificial intelligence make work easier and create new opportunities for journalists.
“You have to move with the times, if it’s AI, go and study AI, knowledge is critical, without knowledge, you cannot excel,” he said.
He advised media practitioners to focus on self-development rather than depend on government support, warning that excessive reliance on public funding could affect the independence of the media.
“I don’t think you need support from government, when you depend on government, you risk becoming an agent of government.
“Everything in life is about self-motivation and seeking knowledge,” he stated.
Anosike described the present period as a favourable time for journalism, citing the growing demand for credible information, research and context.
“The next 10 years will be defined by real journalists who can do research, provide context and structure information properly.
“It is actually the best time to be a journalist,” he said.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Ms Grace Ike, congratulated the management and staff of Daily Times on the newspaper’s centenary celebration.
She described the milestone as a testament to resilience, service and commitment to the Nigerian nation and the journalism profession.
“One hundred years is not just a number; it is a testimony to resilience and service to the Nigerian nation and to the media profession,” she said.
Ike said Daily Times had played a historic role in shaping public opinion, promoting democratic values and strengthening journalism practice in Nigeria.
According to her, the newspaper’s legacy remains a reference point in the history of the Nigerian press.
She added that the centenary celebration should serve as a moment of reflection for media practitioners at a time when the media landscape was undergoing rapid transformation.
“The role of credible journalism has become even more important, the media remains at the heart of public enlightenment and national development,” she said.
The Daily Times centenary celebration is expected to feature a series of activities, including public engagements, exhibitions, heritage projects and discussions on the future of journalism.
It will bring together media professionals, policymakers, industry stakeholders and scholars to reflect on the newspaper’s contributions to Nigeria’s development over the last 100 years.
The highpoint of the celebration would be the “Times Heroes Award ” where the public will nominate journalists who will be honoured as icons of Daily Times.
The Daily Times was started by Richard Barrow and Ernest Ikoli as a four-page daily in colonial Lagos where it grew into the nation’s newspaper of record.
The last 25 years had been turbulent with ownership changes, economic downturns, and digital disruption forcing the print edition to scale down but the brand survived.
It currently publishes in print and online, still holding to its founding mission of journalism “for the people.”
