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President Bola Tinubu has said his administration has deliberately tolerated criticism, including personal attacks against him, as part of its commitment to democratic values and press freedom.
The President stated this on Thursday at the centenary celebration of the Daily Times of Nigeria Limited in Abuja, where he said the tolerance of dissent was central to the philosophy of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said Nigerians could criticise or even attack him verbally without fear of reprisals from government.
“Let us admit that under this government, you can insult and attack the president and still go to bed without midnight troubles. This philosophy lies at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
The President said the media had a critical role to play in shaping the country’s future, noting that Nigeria’s current challenges were not products of recent developments but had accumulated over several decades.
He said national renewal required an honest understanding of the country’s past, the courage to confront structural weaknesses and the political will to make difficult but necessary decisions.
According to him, the reforms undertaken by his administration were not merely policy adjustments but part of a broader effort to alter Nigeria’s economic trajectory.
He said the reforms were designed to strengthen the country’s fiscal foundation, promote economic productivity, reinforce institutions, attract investment, improve infrastructure and expand opportunities for young Nigerians to enable the country to compete more effectively in the global economy.
Tinubu unveils Nigerian Grand Book
Speaking on the significance of the Daily Times centenary, Tinubu described 100 years of the newspaper’s existence as a demonstration of endurance, relevance and institutional resilience.
“One hundred years is not an anniversary; it is a testament to endurance, relevance and institutional resilience,” he said.
The President said the Daily Times had not merely reported Nigeria’s history but had played an important role as a leader, analyst and catalyst in the country’s development.
He stressed the importance of preserving historical records, warning that societies that fail to understand their past risk repeating their mistakes.
“A nation that forgets its history is at risk of repeating its mistakes, but a nation that understands its history can draw wisdom from its successes, learn from its setbacks and confidently design its future,” he said.
Tinubu subsequently unveiled the Nigerian Grand Book, a publication intended to document the contributions of Nigerians to national development and preserve the country’s institutional memory for future generations.
“History should not be a museum of yesterday. History should be an instrument of engineering tomorrow,” he said.
According to him, the publication would also enable Nigerians to document and interpret their history from their own perspective rather than relying exclusively on external narratives.
He said the initiative complemented the Daily Times’ 100 Times Heroes Award, which recognises Nigerians who have contributed to national development across different sectors.
“Nations are built by people,” the President said, citing entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, public servants, artists, innovators and community leaders among those whose contributions deserved recognition.
Tinubu raises population, food security concerns
The President also drew attention to Nigeria’s projected population growth, noting that the country could reach about 450 million people by 2050.
He said the demographic projection carried significant implications for Nigeria’s food sovereignty, water resources and broader development planning, underscoring the need for long-term strategies to address emerging challenges.
Tinubu commended the management and leadership of the Daily Times, as well as the Chairman of Folio Media Group, Fidelis Anosike, for their efforts to preserve the newspaper’s legacy and national heritage.
He urged the newspaper to sustain its operations and remain relevant for another century.
Anosike recounts Daily Times’ 100-year journey
Earlier, Anosike said the Daily Times attained its centenary on June 26, 2026, describing the Nigerian Grand Book as part of efforts to revive and reposition the newspaper.
He described the initiative as intended to “usher in the resurrection and re-emergence of the Daily Times as the Phoenix of our times.”
Anosike traced the newspaper’s history from its acquisition by the Daily Mail of London to its eventual listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1975, a period that coincided with the implementation of Nigeria’s Indigenisation Act.
He also credited the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with facilitating what he described as a transparent privatisation process involving the Daily Times of Nigeria.
According to Anosike, the newspaper was eventually acquired by a group of young Nigerians in their 30s, whom he said demonstrated the capacity to undertake mergers, acquisitions, expansion and diversification comparable to what obtains in more developed economies.
He thanked guests and stakeholders for attending the centenary celebration, describing the newspaper’s journey as one that had inspired ambitious ventures built around faith, growth and service.
The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; governors of Niger, Zamfara and Nasarawa states, representatives of Lagos and other states, ministers and other senior government officials.
Also present were the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi; Vanguard Publisher, Sam Amuka; ThisDay Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena; traditional rulers and other prominent Nigerians.
In his keynote address, former President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, commended the Daily Times for its longstanding contribution to the development of journalism and public discourse in Nigeria.
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