President Bola Tinubu has led a wave of tributes to Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka as the renowned playwright, poet and activist celebrates his 92nd birthday.
In a personally signed statement, Tinubu described Soyinka as a “global icon” and “one of our nation’s living repositories of history, knowledge and courage,” praising his lifelong contributions to literature, democracy and the fight against injustice. The President also reflected on their shared struggle against military dictatorship during the June 12 pro-democracy movement in the 1990s.
Born on July 13, 1934, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Soyinka made history in 1986 when he became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Over the decades, he has earned global recognition for his plays, novels, essays and unwavering advocacy for human rights, free speech and good governance.
Tinubu hailed the literary icon as an enduring inspiration whose intellect and courage have shaped generations of Nigerians and readers across the world. He thanked Soyinka for his “undying faith in the Nigerian project” and prayed for continued good health and many more years of impactful service.
Tributes have also poured in from across Nigeria and beyond, with admirers celebrating Soyinka’s remarkable literary legacy, fearless activism and lasting influence on African literature and global intellectual discourse. His recent national honours, including the renaming of the National Theatre in his honour, have further cemented his place among Nigeria’s most celebrated cultural figures.
