DTN@100: Experts Set Agenda for Nigeria’s Future, Global Repositioning

Leading Nigerian experts in technology, media, entertainment and business are expected to examine how Nigeria can reposition itself as a major player in global socio-economic development at the DTN@100 TownHall and National Conversation scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The national conversation, themed “Shaping the Future,” will focus on strategies for changing negative international perceptions of Nigeria, projecting the country's achievements and harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit and creative abilities of its people to secure a stronger position on the global stage.

The event, organised as part of the Daily Times centenary celebrations, will bring together prominent personalities from different professional backgrounds to examine the country's development prospects and make recommendations on how Nigeria can better communicate its national story to the international community.

Among the speakers expected to dissect the issues are Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa; Jude Jideonwo, Co-founder of Red For Africa; Olutomiwa Williams, Chief Growth and AI Officer for Middle East and Africa at Microsoft; and Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Nigerian technology entrepreneur and investor.

The speakers bring extensive experience in media, technology, digital transformation, entrepreneurship and business leadership to the conversation.

Okosi is a seasoned media, entertainment and technology executive with more than two decades of professional experience, while Jideonwo is a lawyer, journalist and media entrepreneur.

Williams is a technology executive with over two decades of experience in information technology, digital transformation and business leadership. Aboyeji, on his part, is recognised for co-founding Andela and Flutterwave, two companies associated with the growth of Africa's technology and innovation ecosystem.

Their contributions are expected to address how Nigeria can translate its considerable human resources, creativity, enterprise and professional accomplishments into greater international recognition and economic opportunities.

A major concern of the conversation is the apparent disconnect between Nigeria's achievements and the country's international image. Although Nigerians have continued to demonstrate remarkable entrepreneurial abilities and creative talents across professions, sports, music, arts and technology, the country continues to contend with negative perceptions in some international circles.

The national conversation is therefore designed to explore practical ways of changing that narrative, highlighting the country's accomplishments while identifying the responsibilities of government, businesses, institutions and citizens in shaping a more positive national identity.

The TownHall and National Conversation is the second major activity in the multi-layered DTN@100 Centenary Celebration, which seeks to reflect on Nigeria's past, celebrate its present achievements and provide a platform for conversations about its future.

Other components of the celebration include the Honouring the Past Exhibition, which will showcase Nigerians whose contributions helped shape the country's history, and the DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards, designed to recognise individuals shaping the future through quality leadership, patriotism and service to humanity.

The exhibition will draw from the archives of The Daily Times, documenting personalities, events and developments captured by the newspaper throughout its 100 years of service to Nigeria.

The event will be co-chaired by Aremo Olusegun Osoba, CON, former Governor of Ogun State; Sam Amuka-Pemu, CON, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers; and Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Executive Chairman of Tanus Communications.

The centenary programme follows the inaugural DTN@100 Times Heroes Awards held in Abuja on September 3, 2026, under the central theme, “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future.”

As part of efforts to give the centenary celebration a lasting national legacy, Folio Group, owners of Daily Times, has also committed the newspaper's extensive archives to the development of a flagship publication, The Nigerian Grand Book (Magnum Opus).

The 700-page publication is conceived as an authentic national souvenir that will document Nigeria's history, achievements, personalities and contributions to global development. It is also regarded by the organisers as an important instrument for communicating a more comprehensive and positive Nigerian story to the world.

The initiative is part of the broader vision behind the DTN@100 Centenary Year, which runs from June 1, 2026, to June 1, 2027.

Under the programme, the organisers are working towards honouring 100 of the most impactful Nigerians, both past and present, through the Times Heroes Awards.

Beyond celebrating the newspaper's century-long history, the DTN@100 initiative seeks to use the Daily Times' historical records and institutional experience to stimulate national reflection, recognise outstanding contributions and encourage a renewed commitment to Nigeria's development.

The November 3 conversation is expected to provide an opportunity for influential Nigerians to reflect on how the country can build on its historical accomplishments, strengthen its global competitiveness and ensure that its international image more accurately reflects the talents, enterprise and contributions of its people.