90th Birthday: Tinubu Renames National Theatre after Literary Icon, Wole Soyinka

President Bola Tinubu has announced the renaming of the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, in honour of Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka. This declaration was made in a tribute written by Tinubu to celebrate Soyinka’s 90th birthday.

The tribute, titled “Professor Wole Soyinka at 90: Tribute to a national treasure and global icon,” was personally signed by President Tinubu and released to journalists on Friday.

In his tribute, Tinubu expressed his joy in joining admirers worldwide to celebrate Soyinka, noting that July 13 would mark the peak of various local and international activities honoring him.

“Professor Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades as he reaches this significant milestone of 90 years. Surviving prostate cancer, this milestone is a testament to his resilience and the importance of his work,” Tinubu wrote.

He continued, “It is fitting to celebrate this national treasure while he is still with us. Thus, I am pleased to announce the Federal Government’s decision to rename the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.”

Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s celebration of Soyinka’s remarkable literary achievements and his unwavering dedication to human dignity and justice.

“When he turned 80, I struggled to encapsulate his vast achievements. Since then, he has expanded his work with his series of Interventions, published in many volumes. Professor Soyinka is a true renaissance man with numerous talents as a playwright, actor, poet, human rights and political activist, composer, and singer. He is a giant in the literary world, our nation, Africa, and the globe,” Tinubu stated.

According to the President, Soyinka’s influence extends beyond Nigeria, inspiring people worldwide. Since his youth, he has been a vocal critic of oppression and injustice, from apartheid in South Africa to racism in the United States.

“From his 20s, he took personal risks for 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 recounted 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 marginalized was further strengthened.

“Our paths crossed during our struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election,” Tinubu concluded.