The Group Managing Director of Folio Communications publisher of Daily Times Nigeria Plc, one of the oldest newspaper organizations in Nigeria, Aliu Akoshile, has announced moves to reposition the newspapers to get enough clout to take its rightful position in the capital market and be listed in stock exchange.
Unveiling the new Daily Times masthead, ahead of its centenary celebration, at a nationwide virtual meeting with media stakeholders on Monday, the Group Managing Director said that the management is determined to transform Daily Times into a most valuable brand that can attract investment and be taken to the capital market for listing on the stock exchange.
Akoshile said that already, the newspaper has regained international brand recognition following its partnership with CNN for content and value creation.
He said that as the CNN exclusive news affiliate, the paper has developed and launched a digital platform, folionigeria, powered by CNN (www.folio.ng), on human angle positive Nigerian stories which will be replicated across the continent.
According to him, the new masthead of Daily Times becomes effective from the edition of Tuesday, July 7, 2020.
“Our vision is to transform the Daily Times into a most valuable media brand that can attract investment and be taken to the capital market for listing on the stock exchange. It will interest you to know that the Daily Times Nigeria Plc was actually the first indigenous company to be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange in 1963 with N12 million share capital.
“Already the newspaper has regained international brand recognition following our partnership with the CNN for contents and value creation. As the CNN exclusive news affiliate, we have developed and launched a digital platform folionigeria powered by CNN (www.folio.ng). a bifocal human angle positive Nigerian stories, which will be replicated across the continent.
“Our biggest asset, as the oldest surviving newspaper in Nigeria, is the humongous archival resources in our library. This consists of over 660,000 rare photographs, video and volumes of historic publications covering nearly a century. We have commenced the digitisation of these archival assets for learning purposes and literary exhibition.
“It is now my singular honour to present the new masthead of The Daily Times which becomes effective from the edition of Tuesday, 7th July, 2020.”
Akoshile listed the new Board members to include: Mr. Sam Worlu, a scholarly diplomat and ex-Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) as the Chairman, Barrister Noel Anosike, a distinguished lawyer as Executive Vice Chairman and Mr. Aliu Akoshile, a versatile journalist and corporate turn-around strategist, as the Group Managing Director.
On the editorial board are Prof. Hope Eghagha (University of Lagos) as Chairman, Prof. (Mrs) Vicky Ikpeze as Vice-Chairman (Professor of Law), Prof. Tunji Olaopa (NIPSS, Jos) , Prof. Abdullahi Limanv(Dean PG, Nasarawa State University) and Prof. Mrs Ayo Atsenuwa (Law, Unilag) among others.
