UNN Honours Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka with Lifetime Achievement Award

Rasaq AbdulKareem/

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has been honoured with a Lifetime  Achievement award by the Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

Soyinka received the honour in Nsukka, during the 2nd Memorial Chinua Achebe International Conference, organised by the Institute.

Expressing his appreciation, Soyinka said: “I  am happy on the turnout of people and  the award, it has  re-ignited my sense of belonging in UNN.

“ I consider myself part and parcel of this university, I will always identify with UNN wherever I find myself.”

The noble laureate commended the natural green environment of UNN, as it was not achieved by bulldozer but natural environment.

” In many places it is bulldozer that dictates the architecture of the environment, but here it is natural,” he said. “I congratulate the university management, especially the vice-chancellor and urged them to continue to maintain this natural environment.”

Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, commended the Institute for attracting a world literary giant whose contributions to literature cannot be quantified.

“The university is happy that a Nobel Laureate who is a world literary icon is in UNN today live. UNN will continue to honour late Prof. Chinue Achebe through the annual memorial lecture as his literary achievements made UNN a household name in every part of the world,’’ he said.

The Director of the Institute, Prof. Emeka Nwabueze, said many people did not take him seriously when he said he would bring Soyinka to UNN.

He said, ”I was convinced that Soyinka will grace the occasion since he and late Achebe are all giants in the literary world.

“UNN and the Institute will remain grateful to Soyinka for honouring our invitation.”

Mr Pat Asadu, who was also honoured, said that the award would spur him to do more for the betterment of the society.

Asadu, who represents Nsukka /Igboeze-South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said he was not aware that the university was noticing his contributions to his constituency and humanity.

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