Tinubu renames National Theatre Lagos after Wole Soyinka

President Bola Tinubu has officially renamed the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

The decision was made by Tinubu in honor of Soyinka’s forthcoming 90th birthday, scheduled for July 13, 2024.

Soyinka, a distinguished figure on a global scale, excels in various artistic domains including playwriting, novel writing, poetry, essays, acting, singing, composing, and documentary filmmaking.

He is prominently known for his advocacy of effective governance and the establishment of a just and equitable society.

In 1986, he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the inaugural African recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Moreover, the Nobel Prize Laureate has been bestowed with numerous other prestigious accolades such as the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature, the Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (Lifetime Achievement), and the Europe Theatre Prize (Special Prize).

Through a statement conveyed by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, the President characterized Soyinka as an eminent intellectual of his era, upholding the highest principles of human enlightenment while remaining resolute against unfairness, tyranny, and immoral inclinations.

The President lauded Wole Soyinka as an esteemed custodian of Nigeria’s historical narrative, wisdom, and bravery, acknowledging and commending his unwavering dedication to shaping the nation’s destiny as a staunch advocate for democracy and a vocal critic of corruption and mismanagement spanning numerous decades.

“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,” the President said.