Over 80 Nigerian Schools Set To Honour Wole Soyinka at 90, Details Emerge
- Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka will turn 90 a few days from now and plans are underway to celebrate him
- According to reports making the rounds in the polity, over 80 schools in Nigeria will celebrate Soyinka on his big day and for one month
- The president of IACD, Kolade Mosuro, confirmed this development to the press via a statement and shared further details
TheTalk.NG journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
On Monday, July 2, a group, Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development, announced it has gathered over 80 schools to mark and celebrate the 90th birthday of Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka will turn 90 next week.
Photo credit: @WSoyinkaCentreSource: Twitter
Why over 80 schools will honour Wole Soyinka
As reported by The Punch, Soyinka, who was born in 1934, would be 90 on July 13, 2024.
The president of IACD, Kolade Mosuro, made this disclosure in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, during a press briefing on events earmarked to celebrate the global icon, The Nation reported.
The IACD boss said there were a plethora of programmes lined up for the exhibition, which include performances, stage plays, reading and others.
Soyinka’s 90th birthday: Group plans one-month exhibition
Speaking further, he added that one-month-long exhibition will depict and showcase the impactful life of the playwright to both students in the public and private schools within Ibadan and its environs, Daily Trust reported.
He said:
“The students will know more about Soyinka who is a patriot, advocate of fair play, dramatist, artist, guitarist, music lover and nobel laureate. The students will learn from the icon’s story of rigorous study, reflection and growth.
“The Government College, Ibadan will stage The Lion and The Jewel directed by Jumoke Sobo; Childe’s International directed by Dele Morakinyo on July 19, 2024 at Bishop Philip Academy, Aperin, Ibadan; Isara: A stage adaption of Wole Soyinka by Femi Osofisan on July 26, 2024 by 5.00 p.m. at Wole Soyinka Theatre, University of Ibadan.
“While the students would come daily, the general public could come in the afternoons and Saturdays. His life is a story of rigorous study, reflection and growth and a man of rare conscience in any part of the world.”
Nigerians react to pans for Wole Soyinka’s birthday
Many took to the comment section on X and expressed their opinion on the plan for Soyinka at 90. TheTalk.NG captured some of their reactions below;
@Ajayiolubunmij tweeted:
“A great icon u deserve more than that.”
@SOO_Opadiran tweeted:
“Well deserved. Nothing should be spared in celebrating this literary luminary.”
@MrOlubabs tweeted:
“Our hero.
“We love you Prof.”
@HollaNaija tweeted:
“Tinubu is one year in office. Someone should tell him.”
@Joemazi3 tweeted:
“Over 200 Million can support you, but the question is, what impact does that have to do with jobless graduates?”
@BlissEdokpolor tweeted:
“He has no impact in the society.”
Why Peter Obi shouldn’t contest in 2027
In another development, TheTalk.NG earlier reported that Wole Soyinka heavily criticised Peter Obi and the Labour Party supporters, Obidients.
The Nobel Laureate described Obi and his team as incompetent, noting they have nothing good to offer Nigeria.
Speaking further during a recent interview, Soyinka claimed Obi encouraged ‘obidients’ to attack him and others with opposing views online.
Source: TheTalk.NG
