Soyinka says: I never thought I will live till 90 years

An elated Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, said he never thought he would live up to 90 years.

Soyinka spoke on Monday at the 2024 edition of his International Cultural Exchange Programme, at his ARI residence, Ijegba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

On why he decided to be a writer, he said he hoped to correct some anomalies from stories he listened to while growing up.

On why he broke into a radio station during the military era, Prof Soyinka said: “I never broke into a radio station, but sneaked in. The radio station was holding on to something that belonged to the people, and I decided to retrieve it. If that item had been played, it would have demoralized the people and established the culture of brutality.”

Soyinka, who blamed Nigerians for always criticizing the State, but refused to examine themselves, said crimes like kidnapping and robbery, among others, are not because of poverty or inequality, but selfishness and the desire to live a luxury life.

The 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme drew students from different parts of the country who participated in an essay competition on national and international topics.