President Bola Tinubu has renamed the National Theatre in Lagos after Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.
Tinubu revealed this in a birthday message to the Nobel laureate who turns 90 on July 13.
“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 am, accordingly, delighted to have the honour 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 was quoted to have said in a statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale.
Ngelale noted that the President saluted one of Nigeria’s living repositories of history, knowledge, and courage, and commends 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.
Tinubu described 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.
Speaking further on the Nobel Laureate, Tinubu recalled:
“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 galvanized 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.”
Soyinka is a globally celebrated playwright, novelist, poet, essayist, actor, singer, composer, and documentarian.
He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986 – the first African to win the Prize in that category.
