Catholic Herald holds centenary lecture, awards presentation on Oct. 5

Nigeria’s oldest surviving newspaper, The Catholic Herald weekly newspaper, a publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, is set to hold its centenary lecture and awards presentation in Lagos.

The awards presentation ceremony, with the theme “The Nigerian State: Transcending Challenges, Attaining True Nationhood,” is slated for October 5, 2024, at ‘The Hall’, Victoria Island, Lagos, and will be chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the lecture will be delivered by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. (Dr) Matthew Hassan Kukah.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is expected to be the host governor, while the Publisher of the newspaper and Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, is the chief host.

Godonu said that the high-profile lecture would be graced by top government functionaries, political leaders, captains of industry, religious leaders, royal fathers, elder statesmen, scholars, human rights activists, lay leaders, the media, and other relevant stakeholders.

According to him, awards will be presented to eminent Nigerians that have distinguished themselves in various aspects of human endeavours. These include industrialist, Femi Otedola (The Catholic Herald Centenary Man Award); Chief Executive of SIMS Nigeria Ltd., Simeon Eyisi (Face of The Herald 100 Award); Founder of Lumen Christi Television Network and Sir Robert Soji Olagunju (The Catholic Herald Centenary Media Personality Award), among others.

“For many years The Catholic Herald was the sole organ of information and opinion for the Catholic Church throughout Nigeria. It started as a monthly publication and has now transformed into a weekly newspaper. The paper has had its ups and downs but here we are today celebrating 100 years of existence,” the statement stated.