Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, will headline this year’s Wole Soyinka Annual Lecture in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as eminent Nigerians gather to examine the country’s democratic journey and the quest for a just society.
The event, scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Palaccio Event Centre, GRA, Port Harcourt, will focus on the theme: “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage.”
Organised as part of the annual lecture series and featuring the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Martyrs’ Day, the forum is expected to bring together policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, legal practitioners and members of the public to deliberate on issues of governance, accountability and national development.
Soyinka, the Guest of Honour, is expected to lead discussions on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting justice and civic responsibility as essential pillars of nation-building.
The keynote address will be delivered by former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Chief Osita Chidoka, OFR, who is expected to provide insights into the role of accountable leadership and active citizenship in rebuilding public confidence in governance.
Key officials of the Rivers State Government are expected to attend the event, underscoring the state’s commitment to promoting dialogue on democratic governance, justice and institutional reforms.
Organisers said the annual lecture remains a platform for robust national conversations on contemporary socio-political challenges and practical pathways to deepening democracy, the rule of law and responsible leadership in Nigeria.
The event will begin at 12 noon and will also be streamed live on the organisers’ YouTube channel, @NASTV1952, to enable wider public participation.
Prof. Wole Soyinka is one of Africa’s foremost literary icons, playwrights, poets, essayists and human rights advocates. In 1986, he became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in recognition of his outstanding contributions to world literature.
Over the decades, Soyinka has remained a leading voice on democracy, justice, accountability, human rights and good governance in Nigeria and across Africa.
He has consistently spoken against military dictatorship, corruption, abuse of power and violations of civil liberties, earning both national and international acclaim.
Beyond his literary achievements, Soyinka has taught at several universities around the world and has received numerous honorary degrees and prestigious awards. His interventions in national discourse continue to shape conversations on governance, civic responsibility and the rule of law.
The Atlantic Bell reports that his participation as Guest of Honour at the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Martyrs’ Day Lecture underscores his longstanding commitment to promoting justice, accountability and civic courage, values that align with the theme of this year’s lecture, “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage.”
