OUR 2026 UNSUNG HEROES

Nigerians are renowned for their resilience and selflessness, qualities that Media Trust aims to honor through its annual Unsung Heroes initiative. This year's recipients hail from various backgrounds and have each made a unique impact on their communities. Their dedication to helping others stands as a testament to humanity's enduring generosity.

One such hero is Mohammed Besse, who after moving from Kebbi State to Ogun State, initiated a program to encourage okada riders to transition to rice farming. This has not only provided alternative livelihoods for many but also contributed to food production efforts.

Samuel Ihensekhien has spent over two decades advocating for the vulnerable through the legal system. He believes the law should protect the weak as much as it restrains the powerful, and he works tirelessly to ensure justice is accessible to those who might otherwise be sidelined.

Educator and social entrepreneur Bilkisu Abubakar Sambo, through her Minal Learning Foundation, has empowered women, young people, and out-of-school children with education and vocational skills. Her work promotes self-sufficiency and integrity.

Then there is Imam Sheikh Tajudeen Mustapha-Adewunmi, whose integrity shone when he returned a N25 million inheritance from the late actor Taiwo Hassan. Rather than keep the money, he chose to return it, setting a powerful example of honesty in a world often defined by temptation.

These Unsung Heroes 2026 remind us that true heroism often lies in the quiet, everyday acts of kindness and compassion that make life better for others.