Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
Professor Wole Soyinka expressed mixed feelings upon receiving the honour of having the National Theatre named after him, citing his long-standing criticism of public monuments being named after past leaders, of which he believes only about 25% truly deserve such recognition.
He recalled publicly challenging a predecessor in Abuja over similar naming events but said that after reviewing the history of theatre in Nigeria, he felt someone had to “carry the can.” Reflecting on the initiative by a group of bankers who funded the project, he said, “If a group of bankers using some of my 'money' decide to honour me, what's wrong with that?”
Professor Soyinka also recounted his initial reluctance to join Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team during an inspection of the theatre, joking that he had even suggested planting a bo*mb to test it, calling the theatre a slum. He acknowledged the effort of the bankers in transforming the theatre and stated, “If eating one's words produces a muscle like this, then it's very tasty set of words.”
The professor concluded by congratulating those involved for achieving what he previously considered impossible—the transformation and naming of the National Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.
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