In celebrating the 90th birthday of the Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, the Ogun State Government has awarded scholarships to nine students who performed excellently in an essay competition to mark his birthday. The 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme attracted 383 students; 90 were selected, and nine emerged winners.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun while speaking at the programme held at Prof. Soyinka’s ARI residence in Ijegba, Abeokuta, on Monday, July 15, 2024 said the winners would also be provided laptops for their efforts. He stated that the gesture is to motivate the beneficiaries to keep writing and encourage other students to partake in the next edition of the competition.

Governor Abiodun described the Nobel Laureate as the most celebrated black African who has excelled in his chosen career, he pointed out that, as the key to bringing about change and prosperity in Nigeria and around the world, it is important to engage the youth and ensure that their thinking and goals are trained towards progress for the motherland and humanity.

He said the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange, WSICE, was founded to honour the legacy of and reflect Prof. Soyinka’s lifelong commitment to education, cultural exchange, and nurturing future leaders. He added that the initiative underscores Soyinka’s values, which include justice, freedom, and the pursuit of excellence in the arts and humanities.

According to Governor Abiodun, this year’s theme, “Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding Nation-Building (E.N.I.O.G.U.N.),” perfectly encapsulates Professor Soyinka’s profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world.

The governor said: “We celebrate a project that, for over 14 years, has upheld his ideals and vision. There is no doubt that the Nobel Laureate has optimally utilised the inherent values and wisdom of African culture and tradition in his global engagement as a world citizen of African descent.

“The mission and underlying objectives of WSICE are clear and commendable. They seek to create unity among mankind regardless of nationality, culture, or religion by focusing on youth as the future of humanity, in line with the thoughts and guiding principles of Professor Wole Soyinka.”

Speaking while answering questions from children on his life experiences for the past 90 years, Prof. Soyinka said that he did not envisage living up to 90, adding that he decided to be a writer to correct some anomalies from stories he listened to while growing up.

He reported that crimes like kidnapping and robbery, among others, are not because of poverty or inequality, but selfishness and the desire to live a luxurious life. He praised Governor Abiodun for helping to develop the environment around his abode and saving it from degradation, even as he emphasised that this has led to his not abandoning the country.

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