Exactly 10 years ago today, the first copy of The Sun rolled off the press, and took the newspaper market by storm. On January 18, 2003, after many months of strategic planning and meticulous work, the publication hit the newsstands as a weekly, and promptly set all former records tumbling.

The maiden cover story was an interview with former military president, Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, with the headline, My Pact With Abacha. It was as if the market had been starved of quality news for ages. Newspaper readers bought The Sun like hot cake, and it seemed they could not get enough. Nationwide, north, south, east, west, it was the same singsong.

The Sun, The Sun, The Sun. Today, 10 years after, the fire of the romance burns even brighter. In March of 2003, the company added the Sunday edition (Sunday Sun), and by June of the same year, the daily newspaper hit the market. Before that year ended, The Sun had become like wildfire, blazing round the country, just like the cosmic sun, bathing newspaper readers in its glow.

By March 2005, an all-soccer daily, SoccerStar, joined the stable, and also promptly became market leader in its genre. In 10 years, The Sun has brought delight to millions of newspaper readers, who have made us their number one choice. Today, courtesy of these loyal readers, we can look back, and give the glory to God. In our maiden edition in 2003, we had pledged: “We shall fight with the last drop of our blood to defend the cause of national unity, democracy, free enterprise and the clearly cherished values of freedom in all its ramifications, justice, equality, brotherhood, peace, progress and the prosperity of our nation.

To that end, our duty is to hold those in position of public office and trust to the strictest test of probity and accountability, and be the scourge of corruption in whatever sphere of our national and private life. We shall fight to afflict those who afflict our people in whatever arena.” Ten years down the line, we can do a self-appraisal, and return a positive verdict for ourselves. We have kept faith with the pledge we made to the people and to the country, and intend to continue doing so in the decades to come.

The milestone of 10 years is worth celebrating, particularly in a market that has become cemetery for many newspapers, which started before, with us, and after us. Between February 14 and 23, therefore, series of activities have been lined up to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of The Sun, kicking off with a visit of the management team to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Kabiyesi Rilwan Akiolu. During the courtesy visit, the royal father will invoke enduring blessings on the company and its staffers.

Next day, Friday, February 15, a Jumat Service holds at the Alausa Central Mosque, Ikeja, Lagos. On Saturday, there will be a novelty football match between The Sun Strikers (a star studded team of The Sun staff) and stars of Nollywood/Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, at the practice pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. On Sunday, February 17, a thanksgiving service holds at the Inter-denominational Christian Centre, Alausa, followed on Tuesday February 19 by an Anniversary Lecture at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, by 10 a.m. Guest Speaker is former president of Ghana, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, who will speak on the topic Religion, Strife and the Future of Democracy in Africa.

Special Guest of Honour at the event is former military president, Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd), while the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, is chairman. His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto is royal father of the day. The celebration will be concluded in grand style on Saturday, February 23, with The Sun Awards, billed for the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, from 3 p.m. At the event to be chaired by former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, seven categories of awards are to be bestowed on distinguished Nigerians.

They are; Lifetime Achievement Award, given to Gen Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, former Minister of Defence, Mr Paschal Dozie, former Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Chief Afe Babalola, Philantropist, legal luminary and promoter of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, former Minister of Finance and one time Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Public Service Award will go to Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina and Chief Osita Chidoka, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Banker of the Year, Ms Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director, Bank of Industry, while Business Person of the Year, will be bestowed jointly on Oba Otudeko of Honeywell Group, and Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo, Chairman of Ekulo Group.

Sports Person of the Year goes to Yakubu Adesokan, who broke two World Records at the Paralympics Games in London, while Nigerian Hero of the Year is Inspector Adekoya Jamiu of the Nigerian Police Force. The flagship award, Man of the Year, goes to Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives, for the sterling leadership attribute he displayed in January 2012, convening the House on a Sunday to debate the hike in price of petrol on New Year Day.

That initiative helped in cooling national temper, which may have spelt danger for our democracy. As we turn 10, it is an opportunity for us at The Sun to renew our commitment to the Nigerian people. Our covenant is for better or for worse, no less. We shall always stand by you. Surely, there’s nothing you can do without The Sun.

In 10 years, The Sun has brought delight to millions of newspaper readers, who have made us their number one choice. Today, courtesy of these loyal readers, we can look back and give the glory to God. In our maiden edition in 2003, we had pledged: “We shall fight with the last drop of our blood to defend the cause of national unity, democracy, free enterprise and the clearly cherished values of freedom in all its ramifications, justice, equality, brotherhood, peace, progress and the prosperity of our nation.

To that end, our duty is to hold those in position of public office and trust to the strictest test of probity and accountability, and be the scourge of corruption in whatever sphere of our national and private life. We shall fight to afflict those who afflict our people in whatever arena.” Ten years down the line, we can do a self-appraisal and return a positive verdict for ourselves.

We have kept faith with the pledge we made to the people and to the country and intend to continue doing so in the decades to come. The milestone of 10 years is worth celebrating, particularly in a market that has become cemetery for many newspapers, which started before, with us, and after us. Between February 14 and 23, therefore, series of activities have been lined up to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of The Sun, kicking off with a visit of the management team to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Kabiyesi Rilwan Akiolu.

During the courtesy visit, the royal father will invoke enduring blessings on the company and its staffers. Next day, Friday, February 15, a Jumat Service holds at the Alausa Central Mosque, Ikeja, Lagos. On Saturday, there will be a novelty football match between The Sun Strikers (a star-studded team of The Sun staff) and stars of Nollywood/Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, at the practice pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. On Sunday, February 17, a thanksgiving service holds at the Inter-denominational Christian Centre, Alausa, followed on Tuesday, February 19, by an Anniversary Lecture at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, by 10 a.m. Guest Speaker is former president of Ghana, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, who will speak on the topic Religion, Strife and the Future of Democracy in Africa.

– The Sun