President Tinubu Renames National Theatre in Honour of Wole Soyinka’s 90th Birthday

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President Bola Tinubu has paid a heartfelt tribute to Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on his 90th birthday by renaming the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

In a tribute personally signed by the President and shared with the media on Friday, Tinubu praised Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, stating that the literary giant deserves all accolades for his remarkable achievements and resilience. “Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work,” Tinubu noted.

The President highlighted the importance of celebrating Soyinka while he is still with us, stating, “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’s tribute emphasized Soyinka’s vast literary contributions and his unwavering dedication to human dignity and justice. He described Soyinka as a true Renaissance person, 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,” the President added.

Reflecting on Soyinka’s influence and courage, Tinubu recalled the Nobel laureate’s efforts to broker peace during the Nigerian Civil War and his subsequent imprisonment. Despite these challenges, Soyinka’s resolve to speak truth to power and fight for the marginalized remained unshaken, as evidenced in his writings such as “The Lion and the Jewel” and “Death and the King’s Horseman.”

The President also recalled their shared struggle for democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Tinubu praised Soyinka’s efforts in exile to galvanize opposition against the military regime through NALICON and NADECO, making him the face of the struggle to restore democracy in Nigeria.

President Tinubu concluded by celebrating Soyinka’s enduring influence and his role as a shining light for the nation and the world. “He remains the gadfly that pokes our national soul, decrying tyranny and oppression, urging us to become better as a nation,” Tinubu stated.