National Telescope national telescope newspaper
by Alimi Micheal
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka expressed surprise at reaching the age of 90 during the 2024 edition of his International Cultural Exchange Programme at his ARI residence in Ijegba, Abeokuta on Monday.
Reflecting on his life, he shared that he initially pursued writing to correct narratives he found misleading while growing up.
Addressing his controversial past, Soyinka clarified an incident during the military era when he entered a radio station to reclaim public rights.
He emphasized that it wasn’t a break-in but a necessary action to prevent the spread of demoralizing content.
“I never broke into a radio station, but I sneaked in. The radio station was holding on to something that belonged to the people, and I decided to retrieve it. If that item had been played, it would have demoralized the people and established the culture of brutality.”
Soyinka criticized Nigerians for habitually blaming the state while neglecting introspection.
He argued that societal issues like kidnapping and robbery stem from selfishness rather than poverty or inequality.
He commended Governor Abiodun for environmental efforts around his residence, preventing degradation and influencing his decision not to abandon the country.
The event also featured the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme, where 383 students competed in an essay contest on national and international topics.
Alabi Oluwanifemi emerged as the top essayist, followed by Okoye Collins John in second place and Adebusi Adeoluwa in third.
