University of Ibadan renames arts theatre after Soyinka

The Council and Senate of the University of Ibadan has renamed its arts theatre after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. This is in recognition of his global status as a writer, activist and first African Head of the Department of Theatre Arts founded in 1963. 

The unveiling was held on Tuesday alongside the second Geoffrey Axworthy Lecture instituted in honour of Geoffrey Axworthy, the founding Head of the Department of Theatre Arts.

Late Axworthy was the founding Director of the School of Drama of the university of Ibadan in 1962, while Soyinka was also the founding head when the school was transformed into a full Department of Theatre Arts in 1970.

Soyinka, in his remarks said “This is a place of memories for me, I also felt contented co-honoured with Geoffrey Axworthy who fought so hard to make the department what it is today.

“It is very easy to forget a pioneer, but I have to say that our successors here have a sense of history, so, I must thank you all for this,” he said and urged lecturers and students to have fun like old times and make the department great with creative productions.

The Arts Theatre is a historical structure. Apart from being one of the oldest buildings in the University, having been constructed in 1955 with a grant from the Rockefella Foundation, it has assisted in producing human resource for the country.