Nigeria, May 9 -- On behalf of our Publisher, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi (who is unavoidably absent), the Chairman and members of our Board of Directors, the Editorial Board, and the entire staff and management of Premium Times, I sincerely thank our distinguished guests for joining us tonight. Your presence, support, and enduring friendship mean a great deal to us.

Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate the exceptional work of our staff - their commitment to ethical journalism and excellence in storytelling - but also to reflect. To take stock of where we have come from, the risks we have taken, and the responsibility we continue to bear.

When Mr Olorunyomi led us to start PREMIUM TIMES in 2011, the mission was clear and unwavering: journali...