There are two qualities the world has come to associate with Nigerians: resilience and an enduring willingness to help others, even in the most difficult circumstances.
It is this spirit of selflessness, compassion and service that Media Trust sets out to find, recognise and celebrate through its annual Unsung Heroes initiative.
Every year, we bring to the fore individuals who, often without seeking recognition, go out of their way to make life better for others and remind us that humanity still has a generous heart.
Our 2026 Unsung Heroes are a diverse group of men and women from different backgrounds and walks of life. Some have devoted their lives to their communities, while others have responded to a particular need or circumstance. What unites them is their commitment to helping fellow human beings.
Mohammed Besse left his native Kebbi State and settled in Ogun State, where he began an initiative helping commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as okada riders, take up rice farming.
Through the initiative, some young people who previously depended solely on motorcycle riding have found an alternative means of livelihood, while also contributing to food production and the nation’s drive for greater food sufficiency.
For nearly two decades, Samuel Ihensekhien has built his legal career around a conviction that the law should protect the vulnerable as much as it restrains the powerful.
He has devoted much of his practice to seeking justice for people who might otherwise struggle to navigate Nigeria’s complex and often expensive justice system. For him, the law is not merely a profession but an instrument through which those without influence or resources can have their voices heard.
Bilkisu Abubakar Sambo, an educator, author and social entrepreneur, has devoted her work to empowering vulnerable people, advancing education and promoting a culture of integrity.
Through her foundation, Minal Learning Foundation (MLF), she has spent more than a decade equipping women, young people and out-of-school children with education, vocational skills and the confidence to build self-reliant lives.
In a world where temptation can sometimes be measured in millions of naira, Imam Sheikh Tajudeen Mustapha-Adewunmi demonstrated the value of integrity when he chose to return money entrusted to him rather than keep it.
The Chief Imam of Ilaro Central Mosque and Secretary-General of the League of Imams and Alfas, Ogun State, returned N25 million entrusted to him by the late actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
The transaction, carried out between the two men, presented the imam with an opportunity to keep the money. Instead, he chose to do what he considered right, turning an otherwise private act of integrity into a public reminder of the enduring value of honesty.
We present to you our UNSUNG HEROES 2026.
Daily Trust
