President Tinubu Renames National Theatre in Honor of Wole Soyinka on His 90th Birthday

President Bola Tinubu has honored Nigeria’s literary icon, Professor Wole Soyinka, by renaming the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts. This tribute comes as the renowned writer and Nobel laureate celebrates his 90th birthday.

In a heartfelt tribute on Friday, President Tinubu described Soyinka as a “national treasure and global icon” who has made immense contributions to Nigeria’s literary and cultural landscape.

“Professor Soyinka is a colossus, a true Renaissance person blessed with innumerable talents. He is 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,” Tinubu stated.

The President praised Soyinka’s unwavering dedication to the values of human dignity and justice, saying, “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.”

President Tinubu also commended Soyinka’s courage in speaking truth to power, citing his efforts to broker peace at the start of the civil war in 1967 and his imprisonment for 22 months.

In celebrating Soyinka’s 90th birthday, Tinubu joined admirers from around the world. The milestone will be marked with a symposium and poetry reading in Rabat, Morocco, on July 13. “I wish Professor Soyinka an incredibly happy 90th birthday. May he continue in good health to find creative fulfillment in the next decade leading up to his centennial,” the President added.

- Wole Soyinka

- President Bola Tinubu

- National Theatre Iganmu

- Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts

- 90th birthday celebration

- Nigerian literary icon

- Cultural contributions

- Human rights activist

- Political activist

- Nigerian literature

- Nobel laureate

- African literature