Nigeria’s oldest surviving newspaper, The Catholic Herald weekly newspaper, a publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, held its Centenary Lecture and Awards presentation today.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended The Catholic Herald Centenary Lecture and Awards presentation ceremony.
Founded on June 21, 2024, The Centenary Lecture and Awards presentation is part of the year-long activities marking the 100th anniversary of the newspaper’s establishment.
Themed, The Nigerian State: Transcending Challenges; Attaining True Nationhood, the event took place today October 5, 2024 at ‘The Hall’, Victoria Island, Lagos, was chaired by Senator (Dr.) George Akume CON, Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to a release signed by the Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the lecture was delivered by Most Rev. (Dr.) Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.
The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was the host Governor while the publisher of the newspaper and Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins served the chief host.
Fr. Godonu said the high-profile lecture was graced by top government functionaries, political leaders, captains of industries, religious leaders, royal fathers, elder statesmen, scholars, human rights activists, lay leaders, the media, and other relevant stakeholders.
Awards was presented to eminent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various aspects of human endeavours. They include top industrialist, Mr. Femi Otedola (The Catholic Herald Centenary Man Award); Chief Executive of SIMS Nigeria Ltd, Chief Simeon Eyisi (Face of The Herald 100 Award); Founder of Lumen Christi Television Network, Sir Robert Soji Olagunju (The Catholic Herald Centenary Media Personality Award); Corporate Guru, Sir Steve Omojafor (The Catholic Herald Centenary Life Achievement Award), and Episcopal Vicar for Lagos Region, Very Rev. Fr. Julius Olaitan (The Catholic Herald Centenary Evangelism Award).
Other awardees were the Knights and Ladies of the Order of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Lagos Metropolitan Council (The Catholic Herald Centenary Humanitarian Award); Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (The Catholic Herald Centenary Public Service Award); Mrs. Bernadine Eloka (The Catholic Herald Centenary Most Supportive CatholicWoman Award); Former Lagos Archdiocesan Laity President, Mrs. Geraldine Igboanugo (The Catholic Herald Centenary Lay Person Award) and Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd, (The Catholic Herald Centenary Corporate Social Responsibility Award).
Fr Godonu noted that, “For many years The Catholic Herald was the sole organ of information and opinion for the Catholic Church throughout Nigeria. It started as a monthly publication and has now transformed into a weekly. The paper has had its ups and downs. But here we are today, celebrating 100 years of existence.”
