President Bola Tinubu has announced the renaming of the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, to honor Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka. This announcement comes as part of the celebrations marking Soyinka’s 90th birthday.
In a letter personally signed by President Tinubu and released to the media, he expressed his admiration for Soyinka, who he described as Nigeria’s iconic son and a world-renowned literary giant.
“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,” Tinubu stated. He highlighted a series of events celebrating Soyinka, including a symposium and poetry reading held in Rabat, Morocco, organized by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA).
Tinubu noted the global relevance of Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986. He acknowledged Soyinka’s resilient spirit, having beaten prostate cancer, and his significant contributions to literature and advocacy for equity and justice.
“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 declared.
The president praised Soyinka’s vast achievements, noting his roles as a playwright, actor, poet, human rights and political activist, composer, and singer. “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,” Tinubu said.
He recalled Soyinka’s fearless activism, from his opposition to apartheid in South Africa to his criticisms of racism in the United States. Tinubu also remembered Soyinka’s personal risks during Nigeria’s civil war and his enduring commitment to democracy, particularly during the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
“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,” Tinubu concluded.
The renaming of the National Arts Theatre is a testament to Soyinka’s enduring legacy and his impact on Nigeria and the world.
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