Late 2023, the exiting Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah proposed several initiatives that saw the establishment of centers of studies on prominent Nigerian literary writers and contributors to local and African cultures.
They include Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Professor Kolawole Omotosho and Usman Dan Fodio’s daughter, Nana Asmaouh.
The aim of the centers is to open up the school to the world and attract global scholars, to bring the works of these prominent personalities closer to younger generations, and underscore the benefits of celebrating their contributions.
With the appointment of an acting director for the Center for Wole Soyinka Studies two months ago, in the person of Mr Olabodewale Ojoniyi, the center seems off to a good start, hosting a colloquium in July to mark Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP Books & Arts, Ojoniyi said the center is unique compared to other centers of studies on Soyinka outside Nigeria.
“Ours is the only center that is engrained in the culture that produced Soyinka and his works. All the other centers in existence before now are third class in that culture.”
Ojoniyi said the center also serves as a means of bringing Soyinka’s works closer to younger generation readers/scholars who have been put-off his works by false claims that they are incomprehensible; and a way of enhancing access to Soyinka’s published and unpublished works, including works written on him by others. It will further ensure the publishing of researches and writings with new perspectives on Soyinka in the area of culture mediation, cultural marketing and promotion among others.
“There are three approaches to Soyinka’s works. They include the Basic, Intermediary, and the Advanced Soyinka. People can engage his works either from the basic level, the intermediary level or the advanced level. This is how we should view his works rather than assuming he is entirely incomprehensible.”
Presently the center is collaborating with the National Library of Nigeria to host readings of Soyinka’s works in secondary schools ‘to catch new readers young’.
Besides hosting a gallery showcasing posters, relics and memorabilia from previous productions of Soyinka’s works, the center will run master’s and doctoral degrees courses on the Nobel Laureate that undergraduate students from allied courses like English, Literature and Theatre Arts, can easily be admitted into. Professionals from other disciplines such as Journalism, can embark on researches on Soyinka in relation to Journalism, at the center, and issued certificates if their works are part of the center’s structured programmes.
Addressing Soyinka’s concerns on the sustainability of the center, which can easily be scrapped by newer administrations whose objectives differs from their predecessors, Professor and Head of English Department, University of Abuja, Razinat Talatu Mohammed assured that the current acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, who worked with Professor Na’Allah, will pursue his dreams.
“The question will be when the incoming VC assumes office. However, we will impress upon him the need for such centers to continue to exist. The fanfare that this center and others like it will bring to the university cannot be underestimated,” said Mohammed.
“What sustains anything in life is the vision and purpose behind it. I believe we have gotten the vision and purpose right. However, as the acting director of the center, I have the responsibility of ensuring the vision and purpose is pursued to its logical conclusion. It is like my baby that I must nurse, even if it does die, it won’t be under my watch,” said Ojoniyi.
