90th Birthday: Tinubu names National Theatre after Wole Soyinka

President Bola Tinubu has renamed the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, after Professor Wole Soyinka.

The president disclosed this in a letter he wrote to celebrate the Nobel Laureate, in commemoration of his 90th birthday.

The letter partly read: “I am pleased to join admirers around the world in celebrating the 90th birthday of Nigeria’s iconic son and the world-renowned Professor Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde, famously known as Wole Soyinka.

Tomorrow the 13th July will be the climax of the series of local and international activities held in his honour. To underscore the global relevance of the literary giant, a symposium, along with poetry reading was held in Rabat Morocco on 9 July. The event was organized by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA).

“Professor Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades as he marks the milestone of 90 years on earth. Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work. 

It is also fitting we celebrate this national treasure while he is still with us. I am, accordingly, delighted to announce the decision of the Federal Government to rename the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.”

Tinubu noted that his administration celebrates Soyinka’s outstanding literary achievements and his unwavering advocacy for equity and justice.

When he turned 80, I struggled to find words to encapsulate his achievements because they were simply too vast. Since then, he has added to his corpus with his series of Interventions, which have been published in many volumes.

“Professor Soyinka is a colossus, a true Renaissance person blessed with innumerable talents. He is a playwright, actor, poet, human rights and political activist, composer, and singer. He is a giant bestriding not just the literary world but our nation, Africa, and the world.

He remains the shining light of our nation, the gadfly that pokes our national soul, decrying tyranny and oppression, urging us to become better as a nation.

He is one Nigerian whose influence transcends the Nigerian space and who inspires people around the world. Since his youth, he has been a vocal critic of oppression and injustice wherever it exists, from apartheid in South Africa to racism in the United States. Soyinka always speaks truth to power.

Beginning from his 20s, he took personal risks for the sake of our nation. His courage was evident when he attempted to broker peace at the start of the civil war in 1967. Detained for two years for his bravery, he narrated his experience in his prison memoir, “The Man Died.”

“Despite deprivation and solitary confinement, his resolve to speak truth to power and fight for the marginalised was further strengthened. His early writing, such as ‘The Lion and the Jewel,’ ’Death and the King’s Horseman’, not only testified to his mastery of language, his innovative storytelling, but also his unflinching commitment to enthroning a fair and just society.

Our paths crossed during our just struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election. When faced with a trial in absentia and death sentence by the military regime at home, he galvanised opposition in exile through NALICON and NADECO. His global stature made him the face of our struggle to validate June 12 and restore democracy in Nigeria.

Today, I join the world to celebrate his profound influence on generations of writers, scholars, and activists who have been inspired by his work. I celebrate him for giving us the spark to fight and confront military dictators in our country. I celebrate him for his enduring spirit and for teaching us that literature and drama can be used as a powerful tool to challenge the status quo. I wish Professor Soyinka an incredibly happy 90th birthday.”

Chinyere Treasure Mbadiwe
Chinyere Treasure Mbadiwehttp://wakadaily.com
Chinyere Treasure Mbadiwe is the Co-founder and CEO of Wakadaily News. With a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), she brings a wealth of leadership and strategic expertise to the platform. Chinyere is passionate about delivering high-quality, engaging news that informs and empowers audiences. Her vision for Wakadaily is to create a space where reliable, diverse, and impactful content connects people and fosters informed conversations.

Popular Related

Sports Minister John Enoh,  asks Bash Alli to apologise or face legal action

Sports Minister, John Enoh, has told former World Boxing Champion, Bash Alli, to make a public apology within a week for making false claims...

FULL LIST: Tinubu appoints new Service Chiefs, names Ribadu NSA

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed new Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, Comptroller-General and Nigeria Customs Service. The president named a former Chairman of the Economic...

Tinubu reaffirms commitment to educate and protect every girl child in the nation

President Bola Tinubu has promised to address avoidable maternal deaths during childbirth and also guarantee that girls continue their education. The empowerment and care of...

Shortlisted candidates for the Nigeria Police recruitment moves to next stage

According to a statement released by the Police Service Commission on Saturday, 171, 956 qualified candidates from the screening phase of the ongoing police...

Falana urges Tinubu not to give in to IMF’s pressure on increasing fuel, electricity tariff

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Chairman Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Mr. Femi Falana, has called on President Bola Tinubu to...

Sanwo-Olu appoints KWAM1’s daughter as SSA

Basirat Damilola Marshall, daughter of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a.k.a KWAM1, have been appointed by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu,...

Oborevwori swears in Delta LG chairmen today

Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State, will swear in today ( Monday), in the elected chairmen of the 25 local government areas of...

Certificate saga: Don’t embarrase Tinubu, APC USA warns NADECO 

The United States chapter of All Progressives Congress has warned the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO USA against embarrassing president Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The warning is...

Borno state plans exports of cashcrops and other agricultural produce

The government of Borno State is aiming to achieve food self-sufficiency and export cash crops and other agricultural produce like cassava and maize, among...

Naval officer’s private part allegedly missing in Calabar

A private part of a naval officer has allegedly been snatched by genital thieves in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. The naval officer was...