President Bola Tinubu has announced the renaming of the National Theatre in Lagos to The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, in honor of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka's 90th birthday on July 13.

Tinubu expressed admiration for Soyinka's profound impact on literature, activism, and democracy in Nigeria, praising him as a beacon of courage and enlightenment. He highlighted Soyinka's pivotal role in Nigeria's struggle for democracy after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, noting his global stature and unwavering stance against injustice and corruption.

Soyinka, acclaimed globally as a playwright, novelist, poet, and advocate for good governance, was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. The National Theatre, initially completed in 1976 for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), has served as a prominent venue for the performing arts in Nigeria. Tinubu's decision follows his recent naming of the Arterial Road N20 in Abuja after Soyinka, underscoring the president's recognition of the laureate's enduring legacy.