The National Daily Awards was instituted in 2008 to celebrate great men and women, whose actions have had positive impact on the lives of our country and her people.
Our annual award equally celebrates the heroics, patriotism and humanitarian sacrifices of Nigerians for the progress of Nigeria. Our impartial panel of judges have ensured that merit and excellence are the benchmark criteria for nominating potential winners.
We have held high our values with honour and integrity. And we owe this to our brand of journalism which seeks to do away with the “Pull Him Down syndrome” that seems to be the order of the day in most fields of human endeavour. Let me say that necessity has laid upon us the responsibility to use our medium to promote fairness, balance, objectivity and details. In carrying out this onerous task we owe everything to Almighty God who has endowed us with the grace to see the good in our land even at a time when circumstances tend to say otherwise. Our guiding principle is objectivity and we are irrevocably committed to the promotion of the virtues of free enterprise, dignity of humanity and upholding the fundamental rights of every individual.
History of the Awards
2007
The distinguished winner of the National Daily Man of the Year Award 2007 was Engr. Ernest Chukwuka-Anene Ndukwe (The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission).
Others include; Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, Inspector General of Police(Award of Excellence For Commitment to Crime-fighting and National Security), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Hon. Farouk Lawan, Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili, Femi Falana and Festus Keyamo.
Five Policemen from the “Operation Smash Unit” in Imo State Police Command who found and returned a wallet containing credit cards and cash of over $100,000 were honoured with Special Recognition Award for Honesty and Exemplary Conduct.
Prof. Jerry Gana, former Information and National Orientation Minister, and Prof Oladimeji Faborode, Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, were guest lecturers.
2008
The National Daily Award for 2008 was a vast improvement on our maiden edition. The winner for the National Daily Award 2008 was Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Others included Babatunde Fashola (Best Governor of the Year and Most Outstanding Governor (South-West)); Aliko Dangote, Amb. Segun Olusola, Dr. London Ceylon( Heroes Award for Most outstanding Corps Member in Nigeria).
The physically challenged athletes who won medals at the Paralympics in Beijing, in China were also honoured.
Senate President David Mark chaired the event while Prof. Dora Akunyili, Information and Communications Minister delivered the lecture.
THE NATIONAL DAILY AWARDS 2009
Indeed, the roll-call for the upcoming National Daily Awards 2009 which is billed for March 26, 2010 promises to dwarf all the previous award ceremonies.
All roads on March 26, 2010 will lead to the prestigious Lagoon Restaurant, in Victoria Island, Lagos. Our Red Carpet will be longer, our awards will be bigger and entertainment will be greater.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, will be chairman of the ceremony while Prof. Jerry Gana, former Information Minister will deliver the lecture.
ABOUT NATIONAL DAILY NEWSPAPER
Born out of a clear vision to promote nation building virtues, National Daily Newspaper, Nigeria’s leading fearlessly investigative but credible newspaper, has refused to walk the old path of journalism – a path that encourages negativism, corruption and presents indolence as a virtue.
Our vision to enthrone a new culture in this country through the institutionalization of fearless, investigative but credible journalism resounds with the societal ethos we have been inspired to see entrenched in our country. Though we are still a weekly newspaper on the newsstands every Monday we have continued to contribute our own quota towards the building of a just, prosperous and equitable society, which we all envisage.
We are clearly out to build a new nation and a new people by presenting to them the intelligence that will help them to take sound and developmental decisions that would enhance nation building.
By the end of next quarter, National Daily will become a truly Daily publication.