Daily Times Opens Nominations for Person of the Year 2025

The Daily Times, Nigeria’s oldest surviving newspaper, has opened nominations for its Person of the Year 2025, calling on Nigerians at home and abroad to recognise an individual whose resilience, courage, and impact defined a difficult year.

The annual recognition is designed to honour a Nigerian who stood out in 2025 by pushing through adversity, speaking up in challenging moments, and making a meaningful difference at the community or national level.

Explaining the motivation behind this year’s award, Daily Times Managing Editor, Lolade Nwanze, said the initiative reflects the harsh realities Nigerians have faced.

“Nigeria has been through a tough year. Eleven years post-Chibok and insecurity is more widely spread at an alarming level. Inflation and food security has reached new highs with more people falling below the poverty line,” she said. “While the economy may be on the path of recovery, Nigerians are yet to see this translate to actionable difference.”

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Nwanze said the award was created to honour Nigerians who refused to be defined by these conditions.

“The Daily Times Person of the Year 2025 was created to acknowledge, commend and honour that one Nigerian who stood tall through challenges, pushed through with resilience, spoke up and made an impact on his local community or the nation at large in spite of their personal tragedies,” she said.

“This is the embodiment of who a Nigerian is, and we would like to honour such an individual. We invite Nigerians at home and abroad to nominate the Daily Times Person of the Year 2025.”

Members of the public are invited to submit nominations of their chosen candidate in 100 words, clearly outlining why the individual deserves the recognition. Entries are to be sent via email to personoftheyear2025@dailytimesng.com.

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Nominations will close at 11:59pm on December 29, 2025, while the winner will be unveiled on December 31, 2025, bringing the year to a close with a spotlight on resilience and national impact.

Over the years, Daily Times’ Person of the Year has served as both a mirror and a marker of Nigeria’s journey—highlighting figures whose stories capture the spirit of their time.

By opening the process to public participation, the newspaper says it hopes to broaden the conversation around leadership and recognise excellence wherever it is found, as Nigerians reflect on who truly defined 2025.