Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Celebrates 90th Birthday, National Theatre Renamed in His Honour

Renowned Nigerian playwright and novelist, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has been described by President Bola Tinubu as a "shining light of Nigeria" whose influence transcends the Nigerian space. To mark his 90th birthday, Tinubu has named the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos after the Nobel laureate, renaming it the "Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts".

In a congratulatory message signed by the president, Tinubu noted that Soyinka deserves celebration, citing his bravery and dedication to the values of human dignity and justice. The president recalled Soyinka’s contribution to the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, highlighting his international influence and role as the face of the struggle to validate June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Soyinka’s courage was evident when he attempted to broker peace at the start of the civil war in 1967, and he was detained for two years for his bravery. He narrated his experience in his prison memoir, "The Man Died". The Nobel laureate has also been a prominent advocate for human rights and political activist, composer, and singer.

The President of the Centre for Change, Dr Joe Odumakin, also paid tribute to Soyinka on his 90th birthday, describing him as a "living legend". Odumakin noted that Soyinka’s life is a testament to his commitment to high ideals, and he is honoured not only as the epitome of the finest in the global community of letters but also as a shining star in the Nigerian firmament.

Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, has continued to inspire both locally and internationally with his profound impact on literature and his unyielding stance against injustice. As he marks this milestone, Nigerians and people around the world celebrate this ultimate icon who will continue to receive accolades for centuries to come.