Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. (Dr.) Matthew Hassan Kukah; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and top industrialist, Mr Femi Otedola are part of the dignitaries to grace the Centenary Lecture and Awards Presentation of the ‘The Catholic Herald’, a publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, described as the Nigeria’s oldest surviving newspaper.
Going by the theme, ‘The Nigerian State: Transcending Challenges; Attaining True Nationhood’, the event which is slated for Saturday, October 5, 2024, at ‘The Hall’, Victoria Island, Lagos, would be 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 will be delivered by Bishop Kukah.
The event is part of the year-long activities marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the weekly newspaper, which has the Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins as the publisher and Sanwo-Olu as the chief host.
Fr. Godonu said the high-profile lecture will also be 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 will be presented to eminent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various aspects of human endeavours, namely: 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 are 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); Former Lagos Archdiocesan Laity President, Mrs. Geraldine Igboanugo (The Catholic Herald Centenary Lay Person Award), Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd, (The Catholic Herald Centenary Corporate Social Responsibility Award), and Mrs Bernardine Eloka (Centenary Most Supportive Catholic Woman Award).
Fr Godonu stated: “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.”
