Lecture to Commemorate Prof. Wole Soyinka at 79

CEO GSK Consulting,Goke Iyiola & Coordinator, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Motunrayo Alaka

Former Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Government, Idowu Obasa and Makin Soyinka

Coordinator, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Motunrayo Alaka

L-R: Nigerian Poet, Odia Ofeimun & Editor –in- Chief, Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello

Goodwill Massages from Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, represented by Oladipo Soyode

Edo State Commissioner of Information, Louis Odion & Director of ThisDay Newspaper, Kayode Komolafe

Director General, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa

Coordinator, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Motunrayo Alaka, Professor of Literature in English, Lincoln University, Ropo Sekoni, Deputy British High Commission in 2012,Peter Carter, Emeritus Professor of English at Cornell University, Biodun Jeyifo, Honourable Member, Federal House of Representative, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Editor –in- Chief, Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi & Chairman, National Human Rights Commssion, Chidi Odinkalu

Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lecturer, Boye Ola & Gbenga Ademoyo

L-R: Editor –in- Chief, Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, Founder, Kudirat for Democracy, Hafsat Abiola-Costello & Mrs. Banke Sekoni

Story by: Babatunde Adeoye

The 5th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series was held at Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos. The lecture was held to mark the 79th birthday of Prof. Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka.
This year Wole Soyinka Media lecture was theme: The Freedom of Information Act and the Dictatorship of Corruption and Mediocrity. The guest speaker was Prof. Bidoun Jeyifo of African and American studies and Comparative Literature, and other discussant were Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman, National Human Right Commission and the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr. Peter Carter.
Prof. Biodun Jeyifo gives the lecture on the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) he further said that government of Nigeria was under tentacles before the bill was passed to law. In his lecture delivered he contributed his speech to what has really been in existence in Nigeria for over a decade. Corruption, dictatorship and mediocrity have been the voluntary mess in the Nigeria. ‘’Corrupt, Corruptive and Corrupted’’ were his major key words.
Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said that the FOI was passed into Law last year, she also said since the bill was passed into law nobody have vested in the power of the government both at the federal, state or local levels. She urged the media to ask the government on how they spend their funds. She also made a confession that the House of Representative normally allocates 2 million for her six house committees.
Mr. Peter Carter deputy high commissioner of British his also one of the discussant, he talks about the United Kingdom information law. He also said that the former British Prime minister, Mr. Tony Blair made a statement that ‘’FOI is the mistake he made’’ in addition to the discussant, Nigeria medias should take the privilege for the FOI bill to transform into a better Nigeria.
According to the chairman of Human Right Commission Dr. Chidi Odinkalu urged Nigerians to know their right as citizens and how they can use the FOI to channel their issues they see in any inappropriate forms, furthermore, he said the Human Right Commission is like an intermediary for the citizens to ask for the affairs of the government.