President Bola Tinubu has officially named Arterial Road N20, spanning from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX), as Professor Wole Soyinka Highway.
This significant gesture celebrates the immense contributions of Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate and a towering figure in global literature.
Announced by presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga on June 4, 2024, the renaming follows a recommendation from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration.
This honour coincides with Soyinka’s upcoming 90th birthday on July 13, marking nearly a century of his profound influence on literature, human rights, and social justice.
President Tinubu extolled Soyinka’s unparalleled achievements and his role in enhancing Nigeria’s cultural prestige worldwide.
“Professor Wole Soyinka has brought immense honor and fame to Nigeria through his unparalleled contributions to literature and his unwavering commitment to human rights and social justice,” President Tinubu stated. “Naming this highway after him is a fitting tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of truth, freedom, and artistic excellence.”
Soyinka, the first African to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, is celebrated for his exceptional work as a playwright, poet, and novelist.
His literary prowess and advocacy have not only garnered global recognition but also inspired generations of writers and activists.
