Olaopa celebrates Soyinka at 90, lauds patriotic battles
The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, joined the nation in celebrating Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday on Saturday during the “2024 Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series” held in Lagos.
Addressing the audience on the symposium’s theme, “The Death of Truth? Realism, Literature, and Journalism in an Age of Disinformation,” Prof. Olaopa praised Soyinka’s numerous patriotic endeavors and his relentless fight against falsehood in an era marked by disinformation and the erosion of factual integrity.
Reflecting on Soyinka’s lifelong commitment to justice and nation-building, Olaopa recounted pivotal moments in the laureate’s career, including his daring 1967 mission to Enugu to meet with Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, aiming to prevent civil war, and his audacious 1965 intervention at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in Ibadan.
“Soyinka embodies the true spirit of patriotism,” Olaopa remarked. “His courage to dissent for the love of his country and his unwavering vigilance in nation-building through his literary works are unparalleled.”
Highlighting the Nobel laureate’s philosophical contributions, Olaopa cited the laureate’s famous declaration, “justice is the first condition of humanity,” and emphasized the critical role of truth in literature and activism, especially in today’s age of social media-driven disinformation.
“As we celebrate Wole Soyinka, we must recognize the challenge posed by the post-truth era, where objective facts are overshadowed by sentiment and emotion,” Olaopa stated. “For a writer who values truth and justice, the current landscape of disinformation is a significant tragedy, particularly for a nation reliant on its youth for development.”
The FCSC boss concluded by highlighting the importance of upholding truth and justice, echoing Soyinka’s lifelong dedication to these principles.
