In celebration of its 76th Foundation Day, the University of Ibadan (UI) has inaugurated the Wole Soyinka Institute to pay tribute to its distinguished alumnus, Nobel laureate Prof. Oluwole Akinwande Babatunde Soyinka, who is renowned as a writer and a fierce advocate for human and civil rights, often called the Global Humanist.
The announcement came from Vice-Chancellor Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale during a special performance of Soyinka’s latest play, ‘CANTICLES: A Pyre Foretold,’ held at the historic Wole Soyinka Theatre, previously known as the Arts Theatre.
Directed by Tunde Awosanmi, a former Head of the Theatre Arts Department, the play features a cast of 50 and had its premiere on November 17 as part of the year’s Convocation Play.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the new institute aims to “serve the global community through research, performance, education, and exchange initiatives focused on Soyinka’s life, works, and related ideas.”
He emphasized that establishing the institute in honor of the university’s esteemed alumnus is UI’s way of celebrating and immortalizing Soyinka.
“The Wole Soyinka Institute will provide a fresh perspective on global issues,” Adebowale stated. “It will be a platform for redefining our nation’s status, the African continent, and the broader black community. The institute will facilitate profound discussions that reflect the passionate and humanistic nature of Wole Soyinka’s politics, philosophy, and ideas. By engaging young thinkers and researchers from various backgrounds, it aims to solidify Africa’s contribution to the global intellectual landscape for generations to come.”
He praised Soyinka as a visionary, philosopher, and advocate for civil and human rights, linking his contributions to the university’s legacy and his status as the first African Nobel laureate.
Despite the global celebrations marking Soyinka’s 90th birthday on July 13, the University of Ibadan is determined to hold its own tribute to the literary giant. “He is immensely important to our university. He is not only one of our most prominent graduates but has also brought unparalleled recognition to the University of Ibadan, securing its place on the global academic and creative stage. His Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, being the first African laureate, is among the many accolades that have elevated our institution,” Adebowale remarked.
During the event, Professor Soyinka was also honored with the PINK International Award by the La Veronica Magazine, led by Veronica Isioma Joei. He expressed gratitude to the vice-chancellor and the university community for the recognition, reaffirming his lifelong dedication to humanitarian causes.
Soyinka commended the students for their performance of his play, noting that he expected nothing less than excellence from the University of Ibadan, which is celebrated for its “quality productions and outputs.”
