President Tinubu Names National Theatre After Wole Soyinka

President Bola Tinubu has named the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, after Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, in commemoration of his 90th birthday.

In a letter to Soyinka, Tinubu praised the literary giant’s remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to the values of human dignity and justice.

“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 said.

The President also highlighted Soyinka’s courage and commitment to speaking truth to power, citing his efforts to broker peace during the civil war and his advocacy against oppression and injustice.

Tinubu expressed his admiration for Soyinka’s work, saying, “His early writing, such as ‘The Lion and the Jewel,’ ‘Death and the King’s Horseman,’ not only testified to his mastery of language, his innovative storytelling, but also his unflinching commitment to enthroning a fair and just society.”

The renaming of the National Theatre is seen as a fitting tribute to Wole Soyinka’s contributions to Nigerian literature and his global impact.

Channels Television reports that the President’s announcement was made in a letter to Soyinka on the occasion of his 90th birthday, which is being celebrated with various events locally and internationally.