President Bola Tinubu has approved naming a major arterial road in the nation’s capital after Nigeria’s first Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, in recognition of the renowned writer’s contributions to bringing international acclaim to the country.
During the inauguration of the newly constructed road on Tuesday, Tinubu announced that the N20 highway from Northern Parkway to the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway) will now be known as the “Wole Soyinka Way.”
Addressing the event, the President described the 89-year-old Soyinka as Nigeria’s “foremost playwright, novelist, and Nobel Prize winner” who has brought the nation “fame and pride of international acclaim.”
“Let me say here that your momentous recommendation to name this road Wole Soyinka Way is well received,” Tinubu told FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, thanking him for the proposal. “We all accept your recommendation on behalf of the people and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The inauguration of Wole Soyinka Way marks the fifth major project commissioned by President Tinubu as part of events celebrating his administration’s first year in office. Other inaugurated projects include the Southern Parkway (renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way), the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (Metro Rail), and the Outer Southern Parkway (renamed Mahamadou Issoufou Way).
Tinubu also commended Minister Wike, stating he has proven his critics wrong through his work on infrastructure development in the Federal Capital Territory.
Wole Soyinka, a prolific writer, won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first African to be awarded the prestigious honor. His plays, novels, and creative works have earned him global recognition over his decades-long career.
