Eminent Nigerians, including former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, have congratulated Professor Wole Soyinka on the occasion of his 90th birthday on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
“On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos State, I extend warm felicitations to Nobel Laureate Prof. Oluwole Soyinka on his 90th birthday,” Sanwo-Olu wrote on X.
“Prof. Soyinka is a literary giant who has excelled across various genres of literature, with his extensive body of work serving as a touchstone in academic spheres worldwide.
“He is a source of immense pride for Nigeria, Africa, and the entire black community. A staunch champion of truth, justice, and fairness, Prof. Soyinka has been a vocal advocate for democracy and accountable governance in Africa.
“As Prof. Soyinka enters his tenth decade, I offer my best wishes for his continued good health and many more years of dedicated service to Nigeria, Africa, and the world.
“May we also continue to draw from his profound wisdom and inspirational leadership.”
READ ALSO: 90 hearty cheers to Wole Soyinka
Former VP Atiku also took to his X account to congratulate the world-renowned professor, using some of the titles of the Nobel laureate’s literary works.
“To truly celebrate Prof Wole Soyinka, You Must Set Forth at Dawn. And that would be after a Telephone Conversation,” the 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wrote.
“The man of Ake, despite all the Trials of Brother Jero, and at a prime age of 90, remains a virile hunter in our Forest of a Thousand Daemons.
“Neither Death nor the King’s Horseman has stopped The Interpreter from his bountiful Kongi’s Harvest and the Chronicles of his happy life on Earth. Yet, The Man Lives, even in this Season of Anomy. Happy birthday and congratulations, Sir.”
READ ALSO: Wole Soyinka: From Ake to Ijegba forest, a life in full
Governor Abiodun praised Soyinka, saying: “Dear Professor Wole Soyinka, it is with immense joy and heartfelt admiration that I, on behalf of the people of Ogun State, extend our warmest congratulations to you on the occasion of your 90th birthday.
“Your life and career have been a beacon of inspiration, not just for Nigerians but for the entire world. As a Nobel laureate, playwright, poet, and relentless advocate for human rights and justice, your contributions to literature, culture, and social progress are immeasurable.
“You have consistently used your profound intellect and boundless creativity to challenge the status quo and champion the cause of the oppressed, embodying the very essence of courage and integrity.
“Ogun State is immensely proud to call you one of its own. Your achievements and your enduring commitment to the betterment of society continue to inspire generations of writers, scholars, and activists.
“Your legacy is a testament to the power of words and the impact they can have on shaping a just and equitable world.
“As you celebrate this remarkable milestone, we wish you continued good health, joy, and peace. May your days be filled with the same passion and vigour that have characterised your illustrious journey thus far. Happy 90th birthday, Professor Wole Soyinka!”
READ ALSO: Wole Soyinka, our own William Shakespeare, @ 90
The United States Diplomatic Mission Nigeria also congratulated Soyinka, saying: “Happy 90th birthday to Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
“Join us in celebrating the life and remarkable accomplishments of this cultural icon whose work continues to transcend borders and inspire generations.
“Did you know that Professor Soyinka taught at U.S. universities including Emory, Cornell, Harvard, New York, and Yale? Happy birthday.”
READ ALSO: Tinubu names National theatre after Wole Soyinka
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Friday renamed the National Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts and Culture, to honour the Nobel laureate on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
President Tinubu announced this in a statement, expressing his pleasure to “join admirers around the world in celebrating Nigeria’s iconic son and the world-renowned Professor Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde, famously known as Wole Soyinka.”
“Professor Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades as he marks the milestone of 90 years on earth. Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work.
“It is also fitting that we celebrate this national treasure while he is still with us. 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 said Nigerians do not only celebrate Soyinka’s remarkable literary achievements but also his unwavering dedication to the values of human dignity and justice.
The president said when Soyinka turned 80, he struggled to find words to encapsulate his achievements because they were simply too vast and since then, he has added to his corpus with his series of Interventions, which have been published in many volumes.
Praising the celebrant, Tinubu said Professor Soyinka is a colossus, a true renaissance person blessed with innumerable talents, a playwright, actor, poet, human rights and political activist, composer, and singer.
He added that Soyinka is a giant, bestriding not just the literary world but Nigeria as a country, Africa, and the world in general.
Tinubu explained that he crossed paths with Soyinka during their just struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The president prayed that Soyinka continues in good health to find creative fulfilment in the next decade leading up to his centennial.
He also prayed that the professor will continue to inspire every Nigerian to build a nation where people are free from oppression and the teeming youths can live up to their dreams without being a wasted generation.
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