Adejoke Adeleye
Old students of the Dramatic Arts Department of the University of Ile-Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife today described the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, as a global icon who not only made an impact in Ogun or Nigeria but all over the world.
The students under the aegis of Ife Caucus for Kogi 90 said this while celebrating their former lecturer’s birthday in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State on Sunday.
Chief Peter Fatomilola who was also an old student in 1976 said Prof Wole Soyinka was his boss and lecturer at OAU. Fatomilola noted that Kongi encouraged him to go to the School of Drama. “He advised me to step up because I just wanted to be an actor. I am happy I followed his advice of going to school more.”
Alli Balogun, another old student, acknowledged that Prof Soyinka impacted the lives of humanity with intellectualism. He described him as a unique being, a philanthropist, a virtue that most people do not notice about him.
“Wole Soyinka did not just impact knowledge in humanity but also impacted lives through his humanity,” Balogun said.
Chief Gbolahan Macjob, a journalist and film-maker who came from London also stated that Kongi is an icon. “He is inspiring and the world needs to celebrate him more.” The journalist, however, encouraged academic professors to be passionate about their work and be original in whatever they do.
Kemi Koyejo summited that Kongi gave her boldness and attitude of independence, and encouraged her to be truthful at all times.
“I happen to be his last born because I was his last student in 1985. He gave me boldness and an attitude of independence. People like him do not come too often but once in a century.” She added that at 90, Profesor Soyinka is still strong and active.
Prof Wole Soyinka after cutting his cake appreciated everyone who had celebrated with him and noted that all his life he had never celebrated his birthday so much as the way everyone had done for him at 90. He said had lost count of the cakes he had cut in the past weeks.