UI launches Wole Soyinka Institute for “renegotiating the global status of Africans and black humanity”

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Photo caption: (L-R) Deputy vice Chancellor, DVC UI, Prof Olamakinde Olapegba, the VC, Prof Kayode Adebowale, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Prof Wole Soyinka, Promoter Pink Award, Dr Joe Odumakin and Initiator Pink Award, Princess Veronica Okei after the conferment of the award at the Wole Soyinka Theatr, University of Ibadan on Tuesday, November 19

The institute shall be a platform for renegotiating global status for our nation, the African continent and the entire black humanity. It shall midwife global discourses that are as fierce and at the same time are as humanising as the politics, ideology, philosophy and ideas of the legend, Wole Soyinka

Prof Soyinka making his response. PHOTO: Iyanuoluwa Ajibike

Through the gravitation of the minds and psyche of young thinkers and researchers across races, the institute shall be Africa’s major contribution to the intellectual understanding of the human race into centuries to come

IN honour of one of its illustrious alumni, the Nobel laureate, Professor Oluwole Akinwande Babatunde Soyinka, the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university, has established the Wole Soyinka Institute to immortalize the poet, dramatist, essayist, human and civil rights activist, famously called the Global Humanist.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, announced the birth of the institute Tuesday, November 19, after the special command performance of Soyinka’s latest, play: “CANTICLES: A Pyre Foretold,” at the decades-old Wole Soyinka Theatre (formerly Arts Theatre), as part of the 76th Foundation Day Anniversary of the institution.

The 50-man cast play, directed by Dr. Tunde Awosanmi, former Head of Department of Theatre Arts, had premiered on Sunday, November 17 as the year’s Convocation Play.

The VC, Prof Oyebode Adebowale making the announcement. PHOTO: Iyanuoluwa Ajibike

According to the VC, the institute is designed to “serve the global community in research, performance, teaching and exchange endeavours on Soyinka’s life, works and ideas related to him.”

He said Soyinka being an alumnus of the university, establishing the Institute in his honour is his “alma mater’s way of celebrating and immortalising him,” adding that the “Institute shall function as a window of seeing the world through new prisms.”

“The institute shall be a platform for renegotiating global status for our nation, the African continent and the entire black humanity. It shall midwife global discourses that are as fierce and at the same time are as humanising as the politics, ideology, philosophy and ideas of the legend, Wole Soyinka.

 “Through the gravitation of the minds and psyche of young thinkers and researchers across races, the institute shall be Africa’s major contribution to the intellectual understanding of the human race into centuries to come,” the VC added.

He praised the prowess of Soyinka as a creative thinker, philosopher and fighter for the civil and human rights of individuals as well as the collective. Tracing Soyinka’s footprints in the university community and linking same to his global accomplishments, including being the very first African Nobel laureate, the VC, said though Soyinka has been widely celebrated across the globe since he turned 90 on July 13, the University of Ibadan insists on having its own celebration of Prof Wole Soyinka’s attainment of the nonagenarian decade.

“He means so much to our university. He is not just one of our institution’s most visible products. He has brought the highest recognition to the University of Ibadan and gave her an exceptional place on the global map of academic and creative reckoning.

“The announcement of Professor Wole Soyinka in 1986 by the Nobel Foundation as the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, and as the first African to have won the award, topped the numerous honours which he has brought to his Alma Mater,” the VC stated.

Meanwhile, Soyinka, who was also conferred with the PINK International Award at the event by the Veronica Isioma Okei-led La Veronica Magazine, thanked the Vice Chancellor and the university community for the recognition, restating his enduring commitment to the cause of humanity.

He also praised the presentation of his play by the students of the university, reiterating that he was not surprised at the quality performance as the University of Ibadan is known for “quality productions and outputs.”

Titled ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Excellence and Social Impact’, the PINK Award was presented by the president of WOMEN ARISE for CHANGE and promoter of the Pink International Award, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, supported by the initiator Dr Veronica Okei and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale.

Soyinka, the VC and other guests being entertained in front of the Wole Soyinka Theatre… shortly before they went insie for the performance. PHOTO: Iyanuoluwa Ajibike

Scene from the play, CANTICLES… PHOTO: Iyanuoluwa Ajibike

Scene from the play, CANTICLES… PHOTO: Iyanuoluwa Ajibike

Scene from the play, CANTICLES… PHOTO: Iyanuoluwa Ajibike

Soyinka responding to the presenattion of his play, CANTICLES… PHOTO: Iyanuoluwa Ajibike

Initiator, Pink Award, Princess Veronica Okei, Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Excellence and Social Impact, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Promoter Pink Award Dr. Joe Odumakin