Tinubu hails Soyinka as “national repository of history” on 92nd birthday
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu honored Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka on his 92nd birthday, praising his contributions to literature and his history of political activism. The tribute highlighted their shared past in the struggle against military rule.
Why it matters
The recognition of a Nobel laureate by a head of state underscores the cultural and political significance of intellectual figures in Nigerian history.
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka as the celebrated playwright turns 92, describing him as a “global icon” and “one of our nation’s living repositories of history, knowledge, and courage.” In a State House statement he personally signed ahead of Soyinka’s birthday on July 13, the president praised the literary giant’s wide-ranging achievements and his long record of activism against military rule. “Today, I celebrate a global icon and our nation’s literary star, Professor Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, on his 92nd birthday,” Tinubu said.
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