The publisher of Daily Times and treasurer of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mr Fidelis Anosike, is unveiling a landmark 700-page book, ‘The Nigeria Book’ to mark the centenary celebration of the oldest media establishment in the country.
The commemorative event scheduled for June 2026 will officially mark 100 years since the founding of Daily Times in 1926, a platform that has documented and influenced Nigeria’s journey from colonialism to independence and beyond.
Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Anosike described the forthcoming book as a national archive and intellectual asset that seeks to redefine Nigeria’s global narrative and rekindle national pride by tracing its cultural, political and economic journey through time.
Anosike said the events to mark the occasion would include giving special recognition to some past editors and writers in the paper including the publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Sam Amuka-Pemu; former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu.
“This is not just a publication; it is a nation-building project. The ‘Nigeria Book’ is a 700-page compendium of Nigeria’s identity, struggle, triumphs and potential. It captures who we are, our people, our cultures, our values and our collective quest to define our place in the world,” he said.
He explained that the book would be launched as an official national book offering a timeline of Nigeria’s identity, cultural evolution and its independence journey, covering both the pre-independence and post-independence eras.
“We want to tell the Nigerian story as it is through the lens of a platform that has been present at every milestone of our national development.
Daily Times has always been more than a newspaper. It is a national legacy and a custodian of Nigeria’s memory,” Anosike stated.
Providing further insight into the monumental work, the chief researcher of the Nigeria Book project, Aare (Dr) Tunji Okegbola, a former chief librarian of Daily Times, noted that the initiative was an over a decade-long effort involving rigorous archival research and historical documentation.
“This book captures Nigeria in its purest form, from the diverse tribes to raw materials, national identity, and the full splendour of its land. We didn’t just research a country, we told the story of a people, their aspirations, and their journey through time,” Okegbola said.
According to him, the Nigeria Book is structured around Daily Times’ extensive archives, which remain the most comprehensive in the country, with this book serving as an authentic reference point for future generations, policymakers and global observers seeking to understand Nigeria’s complex but inspiring story.
Anosike further recounted the revival journey of Daily Times, which was acquired by Folio Communications in 2004 after years of institutional decline. He reflected on the publication’s central role in nation-building, from pioneering financial journalism to advocating democracy
