The Organising Council of the Daily Times Nigeria Centenary (DTN@100) Heroes Awards have unveiled 29 winners across various categories, recognising outstanding contributions to national development, while opening public voting for three remaining honours ahead of the awards ceremony in September.

Among the top honourees, Zenith Bank founder and chairman, Jim Ovia, received the Change Maker of the Century Award, while Africa’s former Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, was named Global Impact Award winner.

Business magnate Aliko Dangote emerged Business Icon of the Century, with entrepreneur and philanthropist Folorunsho Alakija receiving the Life and Legacy Award. Dame Adaora Umeoji was named Person of the Year.

The awards, organised as part of the centenary celebration of Daily Times Nigeria, followed a nationwide public voting process that attracted thousands of verified votes from Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. The initiative recognises individuals, institutions and organisations whose leadership, innovation and contributions have shaped Nigeria’s political, economic, social and corporate development.

Chairman of the DTN@100 Organising Council, Bolaji Okusaga, said the level of public participation reflected Nigerians’ commitment to celebrating excellence and integrity.

“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.

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,” he said.

Other recipients include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who won the Public Impact Person of the Decade Award; Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as Governor of the Decade; Mohammed Umar Bago as Governor of the Year; and Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda as Politician of the Year. Benjamin Kalu and Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada were honoured as Lawmakers of the Year for the House of Representatives and Senate respectively.

The awards also recognised Festus Keyamo as Minister of the Decade, Nyesom Wike as Impactful Minister of the Year, and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Transformative Minister of the Year. Outstanding Governor awards went to Dauda Lawal, Bala Mohammed, Abdullahi Sule, Peter Mbah, Umo Eno and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, received the Community Impact Award.

In the corporate category, Green Energy International Limited was named Energy Company of the Decade, Emadeb Energy Group won Energy Company of the Year, while MTN Nigeria received the Digital Company of the Decade Award.

The Trade Modernisation Project emerged Transformative Project of the Year, and the Nigerian Revenue Service was named Government Agency of the Year.

The Organising Council also announced that public voting remains open until August 5 for the Financial Innovation Award, National Development Award and Sustainability Award, while nominations for the DTN@100 Trailblazer Award have progressed to the public voting stage.

Okusaga urged Nigerians to continue participating in the process.

“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.

The DTN@100 Heroes Awards will culminate in a grand ceremony on September 3, 2026, at the THISDAY Dome in Abuja, where recipients will be formally honoured and inducted into the Nigerian Book of Life, a commemorative publication celebrating individuals and institutions that have significantly shaped Nigeria’s development over the past century.