President Tinubu Extols Wole Soyinka's Enduring Legacy at 92

President Bola Tinubu has conveyed his profound admiration for Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, describing him as an invaluable asset to Nigeria, as the eminent playwright, author, and activist marked his 92nd birthday on Monday, July 13. A statement released by the State House on Sunday highlighted the President's tribute to Soyinka's immense contributions across literature, democratic principles, and good governance, identifying him as one of Nigeria's most influential public figures.

"Today, I celebrate a global icon and our nation’s literary star, Professor Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, on his 92nd birthday, July 13," President Tinubu affirmed. He lauded Soyinka's exceptional courage and unwavering dedication to justice, noting that "Exceptional individuals like Professor Soyinka do not come often in a generation, men who illuminate the paths for humanity to follow across diverse endeavours, who are not afraid to go against convention, and who do not let the man die in the face of oppression and injustice."

The President further recounted Professor Soyinka's historic achievements, including his groundbreaking feat as the first African to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. Tinubu also reflected on Soyinka's pivotal involvement in Nigeria's struggle for democracy, recalling the Professor's "valiant struggle against military dictatorship for decades, and his efforts in the June 12 struggle, for which we were both in the trenches."

Referring to the literary icon as a national treasure, President Tinubu stated: "Today, I salute one of our nation’s living repositories of history, knowledge, and courage. That he is with us is a gift we will always treasure. I thank him for his undying faith in the Nigerian project and wise counsel." The President concluded by expressing his solidarity with individuals worldwide celebrating Soyinka's profound influence on generations of writers, academics, and activists, adding, "I wish ‘Kongi’ many more years in excellent health."