Students, tutors, professionals, and members of the general public have paid glowing tributes to the impactful and inspirational life of Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.
The various individuals gave their tributes during their visits to the Initiative for Information, Arts, and Culture Development in Nigeria, Jericho, Ibadan, on Tuesday, where a month-long exhibition to celebrate Wole Soyinka at 90 years has begun since July 3.
The exhibition takes visitors on a voyage about the life, lifestyle, character, times, persona, beliefs, successes, and experiences of Soyinka.
It also traces Soyinka’s life from birth until date through a display of visuals and memorabilia with sound woven in a thematic manner to tell his rich and remarkable story.
Visitors are spoken to about Soyinka’s Ijegba extraction, his Isara and Ake parenthood, influences, unforgettable friends, life creed, scholarship, honours, love for music, wine, and palm wine, his being a hunter and founder of the Pyrates Confraternity, and some of Soyinka’s letter writings from prison.
At the exhibition, Miss Otan Oluwatosin and Mrs A.E. Adetunji of St. Annes School, Molete, said they drew some inspiration from Soyinka’s works, biography, history, and behaviour.
Sergeant I. Aribito and Akanji Wuraola of Command Day Secondary School said the exhibition showed Soyinka as a man of the people, a true role model, and one to learn a lot from.
Oseo John, a publisher, said it was gratifying to see the other side of Wole Soyinka aside from his renowned literary prowess, while Yahoh Stephanie and Ezeonu Jacinta of the University of Ibadan stressed how much of an inspiration Soyinka was.
On his part, Fatunase Nifemi remarked that Soyinka motivated him to be more creative, while Mr Soji Arimoro, a professional, said he prayed that today’s young generation sees the life of Soyinka as one that challenges them to be focused on making great success out of their lives.
Speaking, the President of the IACD, Dr Kolade Mosuro, emphasised that the exhibition, with secondary schools as the focus, aims at enabling students to draw inspiration from Soyinka’s scholarly excellence, legacy of creativity, scholarship, achievement, and service to humanity.
By displaying Soyinka’s literary works, Mosuro said the exhibition aimed to stimulate in students the culture of reading and writing as exemplified by the Nobel laureate.
Apart from students, Mosuro said members of the general public will, by viewing the exhibition, have a fresher insight into Soyinka’s unique and impactful life as well as his line of rigour and thoughts.
Mosuro pointed out that several other events were being staged in other locations across the country in honour of Wole Soyinka, including lectures, symposia, and stage performances.
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