Daily Times poised to change youths’ perception about Nigeria’s cultural heritage – Publisher

.Honours Heroes on May 16 at 91st anniversary

As the date for the celebration of its 91st anniversary draws closer, Nigeria’s heritage newspaper, The Daily Times, has stated that it is poised to change the perception of the Nigerian youths about the country’s cultural heritage.

Chairman and publisher of newspapers, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during a press conference preceding the celebration which comes up on May 16, 2017, adding that Nigerian youths need to be well educated about their own country and that the only organisation to provide such archive is The Daily Times currently the custodian of Nigerian history.

According to the publisher, part of the services of The Daily Times since he took over the company is protecting the archives, which contains the history of the nation, adding that his organisation has painstakingly transformed The Daily Times archives to e-archives for proper safeguarding and accessibility of many generation to come.

His words: “Our intention is to ensure that Nigerian culture does not go into extinction. You see it makes no sense when Nigerians tell the history of Spain, Japan, and other countries but could not talk about their country, so we are out to provide that”.

Anosike, who was one-time a graphic artist in The Daily Times further stated that his publishing company will within 24 months retake its original place among print organisations in Nigeria.

While explaining the line-up programmes to mark The Daily Times 91st anniversary, he said the event which begins on May 16, 2017 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja will begin with art exhibition to be anchored by the Minister of Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The art exhibition, according to him, is designed to take the youths, as well as students from various designated schools through Nigerian history, adding that this will be followed by interactive sections, before the award proper.

“What we want to achieve also with this ceremony, is that when we talk about Nigeria, we should be teaching the youths. Our aim is for The Daily Times to be the leading organisation in teaching Nigerian history and this is because we own the biggest archives in Nigeria. We should begin to know why Nigeria was given the name as well as other things with other series of exhibitions on Nigerian history”.

Commenting on the importance of the media industry in building a nation, Anosike remarked that The Daily Times having played its role in the making of Nigeria, added that the foremost industry have been pervasive in its operations.

He said: “Media industries in Nigeria, should be able to carve a niche for themselves. We have made politicians and other public office holders, but it is time for us to build ourselves”.

Anosike argued that part of his effort for this celebration, is to use the medium to draw people’s attention to the critical situation we found ourselves, adding that the problem in Nigeria is understanding the true situation that the media operate in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, The Daily Times publisher has called for genuine collaboration of media organisations in Nigeria to be able to fight for its common existence.

Anosike while fielding answers from journalists during a press conference preceding the 91st anniversary of The Daily Times, said that time has come when media outfits in Nigeria should not allow itself to be ridiculed by politicians which they made.

“I have said this time without number that all the media organisations should be able to form a common front in protecting itself and employees. They must henceforth speak with one voice to protect their employees”.

He reiterated that on no circumstances should any journalist be beaten or detained while performing his lawful duty.

Anosike, however, pointed out the grossly undermined freedom of information Act in Nigeria which he said has remained under implemented as the Federal Government has made the obtaining of official documents so rigorous to the suffering of journalists seeking firsthand information.

Also adding his voice on the forthcoming celebration, Group General Manager of The Daily Times, Mr. Olisa Egbunike, corroborated that for the country to achieve positive growth, the issue of journalism should be a welcome thing as its job involves shaping and reshaping the nation.

“The issue of Journalism should not be misunderstood in Nigeria because its duties are not to destroy the nation but to rebuild it. What we are doing as we celebrate the 91st anniversary of The Daily Times is to provide leadership at our own comparative advantage because we have contributed in the making of Nigeria”.

Deserving Nigerians including the Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as well as other prominent Nigerians have been lined up to receive Daily Times Achievement award.