Professor Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate, says he never imagined living to the age of 90.
News About Nigeria reports that he made this disclosure while addressing questions from approximately 383 students participating in the 2024 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme.
The event was held at his ARI residence in Ijegba, Abeokuta.
During the event, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, announced scholarships and laptops for nine students who excelled in an essay competition organised to celebrate Soyinka’s 90th birthday.
Born on July 13, 1934, Soyinka turned 90 on Saturday.
Reflecting on his life, Soyinka mentioned that he did not foresee reaching 90 years of age and shared that his decision to become a writer stemmed from a desire to correct inaccuracies in the stories he heard while growing up.
He also praised Governor Abiodun for his efforts in improving the environment around his residence, preventing degradation, and contributing to his decision to remain in the country.
Speaking at the programme, Abiodun emphasised that the scholarships and laptops were intended to encourage the students to continue writing and motivate others to participate in future competition editions.
On his birthday, prominent Nigerians and globally recognised dignitaries assembled at the 16th edition of the Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series.
They discussed the importance of thoughtful analysis, self-reflection, fact-checking, and informed media consumption to uphold the principles of truth, justice, peace, fairness, and social justice in Nigeria and worldwide.
The lecture, with the theme ‘The Death of Truth: Realism, Literature, and Journalism in an Age of Disinformation’, was held on July 13 at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, on Saturday.
The Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series is an annual programme of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) aimed at examining varying topical issues related to the performance of the media on the health of Nigeria’s democracy and the country.
