Prof Soyinka
By Ayo Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has named a highway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed this on X, said the President officially named the Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) as Professor Wole Soyinka Highway.
Onanuga said the honour follows the recommendation of the FCT Administration (FCTA).
“The decision, made in honour of the distinguished playwright, poet, and novelist as he approaches his 90th birthday on July 13th, recognises Soyinka as the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize,” he added.
The Arterial Road N-20 stretched from Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway to Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Muhammed Expressway).
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Nyesom Wike made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, during the inauguration of the road by the President, to celebrate his one year in office.
The minister said: “It is not when somebody dies that we will remember his contributions.
“It is good, in the lifetime of someone who has contributed to the greatness of this country, to recognise him, rather than waiting for him to die.
“A dead man does not know what happens.
“I will appeal to you sir, to let us recognise one of our own, by naming this road after him. The only Nobel Laureate we have, who has made Nigerians proud in the world.
“I recommend that this road be named, Wole Soyinka Way. In that case, other people will have hope. People like me will have hope that tomorrow they will also recognise me,” Wike requested
Tinubu approved the Minister’s request to name the road after Soyinka, whom he described as “a famous playwright, novelist and Nobel Prize winner”.
Wike explained that the road was awarded in 2020 at N30.6 billion and had no variation, adding that he had inspected the execution of the road more than 10 times to ensure timely delivery within specifications.
