President Bola Tinubu has extended warm felicitations to Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, hailing him as a remarkable patriot and an enduring source of national inspiration.
In a statement released on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended Soyinka’s decades-long commitment to education, pro-democracy activism, cultural diplomacy, human rights, and nation-building.
“I rejoice with Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on reaching another year and praise his continuing service and contributions to our nation’s development,” Tinubu said.
“Professor Soyinka is an uncommon patriot who has continued to demonstrate his undying love for our country. Even at the grand old age, he continues to be a source of inspiration to fellow citizens and people around the world. We are grateful for his long years of service to Nigeria and humanity,” the President added.
He also wished the literary icon continued good health and more years of productivity and impact.
Soyinka, who turned 90 this year, became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. He is widely celebrated for his vast body of work spanning drama, poetry, essays, and memoirs—a distinctive voice in the global literary landscape.
What you should know
Wole Soyinka is Nigeria’s most celebrated literary figure and the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. His legacy spans decades of writing, activism, and intellectual engagement that have shaped both Nigerian and global thought.
