Nigeria and Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka is 87 today, July 13.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Soyinka’s home state has felicitated Professor Wole Soyinka on his 87th birthday anniversary.

Abiodun, in a short message on Tuesday, said Soyinka was able to conquer the world with his works of art.

The Governor said heavens, on July 13, 1934 bestowed on Ogun, Nigeria and Africa, the rarest breed of humankind.

He boasted that only Ogun State could lay claim to the kind of enigma in the Nobel laureate.

His words: “On July 13, 1935, the heavens bestowed on Ogun State, Nigeria and Africa as a whole, the rarest breed of humankind.

“From being the conscience of the Nation, you conquered the world as a playwright, poet, essayist and public intellectual.

“At 87, we proudly celebrate an enigma whose kind only Ogun State has the privilege of laying claim to. Congratulations, Prof.”

Soyinka a world renowned playwright wrote ‘The Lion and the Jewel’, ‘Trials of Brother Jero’, ‘Jero’s Metamorphosis’, ‘A dance in the forest’. He wrote a novel – ‘The Interpreters’. He wrote many volumes of poetry as well as his memoirs –‘You must set forth at Dawn.’ Other works of his include ‘The Man Died’ etc. A novel of his will be released in September.

He attended Abeokuta Grammar School, Government College Ibadan, partly attended the University of Ibadan where he co founded the Pyrates Confraternity and finished up at the University of Leeds where he graduated with a Second Class Upper in English Literature.

He is a human rights activist and came into national reckoning in 1965 when he seized the radio station of the then Western Regional Government and suspended the announcement of rigged election results.

He has been married thrice and his children include Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, a medical doctor and former Ogun State Commissioner for Health.

The Vent Republic wishes him many more years in good health and prosperity!

Happy Birthday Kongi!