On the occasion of Professor Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday on July 13, 2024, President Bola Tinubu paid tribute to the renowned Nigerian literary icon and global figure.
In a statement released by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu described Professor Soyinka as “one of the finest minds of his generation; conforming to the highest standards of human enlightenment, but unyielding to injustice, oppression, and base impulses.”
The President hailed Soyinka as “one of Nigeria’s living repositories of history, knowledge, and courage,” commending him for his “valiant efforts in the trenches for the nation’s future both as a pro-democracy champion and as a trenchant voice against corruption and maladministration over several decades.
“Recalling their shared history in the struggle for democracy in Nigeria, President Tinubu said their “paths crossed during our just struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.” He noted that when Soyinka faced “a trial in absentia and death sentence by the military regime at home, he galvanized opposition in exile through NALICON and NADECO,” making him “the face of our struggle to validate June 12 and restore democracy in Nigeria.”To honor Professor Soyinka’s immense contributions, the President announced 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 expressed his delight in celebrating Soyinka’s “profound influence on generations of writers, scholars, and activists who have been inspired by his work,” and wished the Nobel Laureate “many more years in good health and creative fulfillment as a global force for change.”The recognition of Professor Soyinka’s legacy by President Tinubu underscores the deep respect and admiration the Nigerian leader has for the literary giant, who has been a towering figure in the country’s intellectual and pro-democracy landscape for decades.