Hosts of the ARISE Television Morning Show have applauded the emergence of Prince Nduka Obaigbena as the LEADERSHIP Person of the Year 2026.
They described the recognition as a fitting honour for a media entrepreneur whose leadership has extended beyond building institutions to nurturing people and developing talent.
The presenters, during Tuesday’s edition of the programme, congratulated Obaigbena on the honour and commended his contribution to Nigeria’s media industry, particularly his ability to identify, develop and empower talented professionals.
According to them, the award is “a remarkable honour for a remarkable man,” saying that as the Chairman within the ARISE family, he has demonstrated a distinctive leadership style by combining institution-building with people development.
They also said several professionals in the media industry could trace aspects of their career growth to the confidence and opportunities Obaigbena gave them.
“He knows how to recognise talent. There’s just an uncanny ability to be able to see the diamond in the rough,” the presenters stated.
According to them, Obaigbena’s leadership often involved entrusting people with challenging responsibilities, which pushed them to discover their abilities and excel.
“A number of people would be able to tell their stories in the media based on the belief that he had in them to do the job. Give very difficult tasks, and then you’re thinking, “Can I do this? Can I do this? But then you excel,” the lead presenter stated.
The recognition of Obaigbena follows a career spanning nearly five decades, during which he has played a prominent role in shaping Nigeria’s journalism, broadcasting and creative industries.
He is the founder of ThisWeek, THISDAY and the ARISE News Channel, institutions that have provided platforms for journalism, public discourse and the development of media professionals.
His latest venture, LekeeLekee, a social media application launched in February 2026, has further expanded his footprint in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital media ecosystem.
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