President Bola Tinubu has praised the “enterprising spirit” of Nduka Obaigbena, chairman of ThisDay and Arise media group. 

The president spoke in a birthday message to Obaigbena, who turns 65 on Sunday.

Tinubu also “prays for greater achievements for the renowned publisher, whose philanthropic efforts, especially in education, have demonstrated his passion for human development”.

Obaigbena started ThisWeek magazine before establishing ThisDay newspaper in 1995.

He forayed into broadcast media in 2013 when he founded Arise News Channel, which has bases in Lagos, London, New York City, and Johannesburg, South Africa.

He is a former president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

Obaigbena is a recipient of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and has also earned the highest journalistic honour of the fellowship of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE).

He is also a lifetime achievement awardee of the 2023 Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).

According to the organisers, Obaigbena earned the honour because of his “contribution to the media and his dedication to mentoring leaders in the industry”.