A group, Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development (IACD), is gathering over 80 schools for an exhibition to mark the 90th birthday of the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
The one-month-long exhibition will depict and showcase the impactful life of the playwright to both students in the public and private schools within Ibadan and its environs.
The President of IACD, Dr Kolade Mosuro, disclosed this in Ibadan on Monday while briefing newsmen on events earmarked to celebrate the global icon.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Soyinka, born in 1934, will be 90 on July 13.
Mosuro, who was flanked by Dr Tunde Awosanmi and Mr Patrick Agwu, said IACD would be celebrating the icon uniquely, pointing out that it was a special grace to reach 90.
The IACD boss said a plethora of programmes had been lined up for the exhibition, including performances, stage plays, reading and others.
He said the students would know more about Soyinka, whom he described as a patriot, advocate of fair play, dramatist, artist, guitarist, music lover and Nobel laureate.
Mosuro maintained that the students would also learn from the icon’s story of rigorous study, reflection and growth.
According to him, Government College Ibadan would stage “The Lion and The Jewel”, directed by Jumoke Sobo, and “Childe Internationale”, directed by Dele Morakinyo, on July 19 at Bishop Philip Academy, Aperin, Ibadan.
He added that “Isara”, a stage adaption of Wole Soyinka by Femi Osofisan, would come up on July 26 by 5.00 p.m. at Wole Soyinka Theatre, University of Ibadan.
Mosuro said: “To mark the occasion, we will be mounting a first of its kind in the country, a special exhibition depicting his full life and have this on for a month, from July 2 to July 31.
“The exhibition will trace his stellar life from birth to date. It will be a display of visuals, and memorabilia with sound woven in a thematic manner to tell his rich and remarkable story.
“The exhibition venue is the premises of Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development [IACD], Magazine Road, Jericho, Ibadan.”
According to him, several activities have been and are being held across the globe, “but what we are doing is different.
“Students from 80 schools will gather here to celebrate and see the exhibition.
“It is to inspire and rekindle the legacy of scholarship and creativity of Wole Soyinka in the students.”
He said the exhibition would rekindle the reading culture in the students, adding that the likes of another Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and other icons could emerge from the students.
“While the students would come daily, the general public could come in the afternoons and Saturdays.
“His life is a story of rigorous study, reflection and growth; a man of rare conscience in any part of the world,” Mosuro said. (NAN)
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