• Cites businessmen’s contributions to innovation, job creation, others
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Leadership Newspapers has named the Chairman of THISDAY Group and founder of Arise News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, and the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, as its Persons of the Year 2026.
The newspaper introduced the popularity, whereas citing the businessmen’s contributions to institution-building, expertise growth, innovation, funding, job creation and philanthropy.
According to Leadership, the duo are being honoured for “building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground” of their respective fields.
Also yesterday, Leadership Newspapers introduced the formal notification of Obaigbena as Person of the Year 2026 on the Ikoyi Offices of Arise News Channel in Lagos.
Present on the occasion have been: Ombudsman, Kayode Komolafe; Leadership Newspapers Vice Chairman & Editor in Chief, Azu Ishiekwene; Leadership Newspapers Chairman, Mrs Zainab Sam Nda Isaiah; THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello and Arise News Director of Politics, Akin Osuntokun.
Obaigbena was recognised for his contributions to Nigeria’s media trade, significantly his position in increasing the nation’s media panorama and launching the Leekelee social media platform in February 2026.
Rabiu, on his half, was recognised for BUA Group’s investments in manufacturing and native manufacturing, in addition to its contributions to job creation, infrastructure growth and shareholder worth.
The newspaper additionally highlighted the philanthropic actions of each businessmen, noting their contributions to strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s future.
It described the popularity as an acknowledgement of their affect and influence on the nation’s financial and social growth.
Earlier, the newspaper mentioned Obaigbena had constructed influential media organisations, nurtured generations of journalists and expanded the attain of Nigerian and African media by means of investments spanning newspapers, magazines, tv, style and digital platforms.
It cited his founding of ThisWeek journal in 1986 and THISDAY newspaper in 1995 as defining milestones in his profession, noting that each publications launched new approaches to journalism and newspaper manufacturing in Nigeria.
Obaigbena based ThisWeek on the age of 27, establishing a publication that coated politics, economics, worldwide affairs, artwork and tradition. The journal additionally turned a platform for gifted journalists, many of whom went on to occupy outstanding positions within the media trade and public life.
His entry into newspaper publishing with THISDAY additional expanded his affect, with the publication introducing improvements in presentation, editorial content material and the business positioning of Nigerian newspapers.
Leadership famous that THISDAY started operations with out Obaigbena proudly owning a printing press, whereas highlighting its adoption of color manufacturing, the elevation of the again web page as a platform for outstanding columnists and the publication of the complete desk of each day transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Beyond newspaper publishing, Obaigbena, it mentioned, prolonged his entrepreneurial pursuits into broadcasting, style and leisure, establishing platforms designed to advertise African expertise and join the continent’s artistic trade with worldwide audiences.
These included ARISE Magazine, the THISDAY Music and Fashion Festivals, and ARISE Fashion Week, which offered platforms for Nigerian and different African creatives to showcase their work to wider audiences.
In 2013, he launched ARISE News, a world tv information platform with an African focus and international outlook, geared toward strengthening African views in worldwide information protection.
Leadership described the launch of LekeeLekee, a social media platform developed by ARISE Broadcast and THISDAY Media Group in February 2026, as one other important step in Obaigbena’s efforts to broaden Africa’s presence within the digital media panorama.
The newspaper mentioned the platform had recorded greater than 100,000 downloads inside about six months, describing its launch as proof of his continued curiosity in exploring new frontiers in media and expertise.
It added that Obaigbena’s profession had been marked by a willingness to take dangers, assemble distinctive expertise and construct establishments regardless of financial constraints, technological disruption and the challenges confronting conventional journalism.
It famous that his media organisations had navigated altering governments, financial recessions and the pressures of digital transformation, whereas persevering with to hunt new methods of remaining commercially viable and related to society.
Born on July 14, 1959, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Obaigbena attended Edo College, Benin City, earlier than acquiring an honours diploma in Creative Arts from the University of Benin. He started his media profession in 1978 on the Nigerian Observer, the place he developed his expertise in writing, satire and cartooning.
He subsequently turned coordinating editor of The Dawn journal and labored as a Special Section Representative for Newsweek. His skilled expertise additionally included work with Time journal on particular surveys and nation sections overlaying Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco and Zimbabwe.
Obaigbena additionally participated in public affairs, serving on a sub-committee of the Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation in 1990. He contested for a seat within the Senate in 1991 and have become a member of the 1994 Constitutional Conference.
His contributions to the media occupation have earned him a number of honours and management obligations. He obtained the Fellowship of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in 1998 and served two phrases as president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN). He additionally chaired the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO).
In 2022, the federal authorities conferred on him the nationwide honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). The following 12 months, he obtained the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in recognition of his contributions to journalism and society.
Leadership mentioned Obaigbena’s enduring significance lay within the establishments he had established, the conventions he had challenged and the alternatives he had created for successive generations of media professionals.
It described him as an institution-builder whose profession demonstrated that African media organisations might pursue international ambitions whereas retaining their roots and views.
The newspaper mentioned his recognition mirrored a profession constructed on the conviction that bold concepts, supported by expertise, execution and perseverance, might overcome the constraints typically related to working in Nigeria’s media setting.
