Soyinka Reflects on Turning 90: “I Never Thought I’d Reach This Age”
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, expressed his surprise at living to the age of 90 during a Q&A session with 383 students at the 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme. The event took place at Soyinka’s ARI residence in Ijegba, Abeokuta.
During the session, Soyinka shared that he never anticipated reaching 90 years old and that his decision to become a writer stemmed from a desire to correct inaccuracies in the stories he heard growing up.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who attended the event, announced scholarships and laptop gifts to nine top students from an essay competition held in honor of Soyinka’s 90th birthday. Born on July 13, 1934, Soyinka celebrated his milestone birthday on Saturday.
Soyinka also recounted his life experiences over the past nine decades. Addressing a question about his infamous radio station incident during the military era, he clarified, “I never broke into a radio station but sneaked in to retrieve something that belonged to the people, which, if broadcasted, would have demoralized them and entrenched a culture of brutality.”
He criticized Nigerians for frequently condemning the state while failing to introspect, attributing crimes like kidnapping and robbery not to poverty or inequality, but to selfishness and the desire for luxury.
Soyinka praised Governor Abiodun for enhancing the environment around his residence, which he credited with keeping him in the country. Abiodun, speaking at the event, emphasized that the scholarships and laptops were meant to encourage students to keep writing and motivate others to participate in future competitions.
The governor described Soyinka as the most celebrated black African in his field and highlighted the importance of engaging youth to foster change and prosperity. He noted that the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange was created to honor Soyinka’s legacy and reflect his lifelong dedication to education, cultural exchange, and nurturing future leaders.
This year’s theme, “Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding Nation-Building,” was noted to encapsulate Soyinka’s dedication to justice, freedom, and excellence in the arts and humanities.
The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange features an essay competition, advocacy, and performing arts including poetry, drama, and spoken word. Abiodun praised the program for maintaining Soyinka’s ideals and vision over the past 14 years and for promoting unity across different nationalities, cultures, and religions by focusing on youth as the future of humanity.
The 2024 edition saw participation from students across Nigeria, with 383 entries in the essay competition. From these, 90 finalists were chosen, and nine were ultimately awarded, with Alabi Oluwanifemi taking first place, Okoye Collins John second, and Adebusi Adeoluwa third.
