WORLD RENOWNED LITERARY #
GIANT; PLAYWRIGHT AND NOVELIST, FIRST AFRICAN NOBEL LAUREATE IN LITERATURE AND QUINTESSENTIAL AFRICAN ELDERSTATESMAN, PROF. #WOLE SOYINKA ENDORSES AFRICA2020 - #ONEUNITEDAFRICA.

The first African Nobel laureate; Global icon of African extraction; our own literary giant of no mean repute Professor Wole Soyinka, W.S. or Kongi as he is fondly called, endorsed the ONE UNITED AFRICA efforts at Pan African rennaisance.

Receiving the team, He was his usual frank elements, at home with the subject and purpose of the moment. He was professorial, cerebral, pungent, versatile and deeply informed on Pan African issues through the ages.

His expansive knowledge and depth would leave anybody awestruck.

Dissecting today's Pan Africanism realities, prospects and challenges; the roles played by our forebears and proponents of a united continent, W.S had no hesitation in expressing his believe and support for the rennaisance of the pristine ideals of a united Africa.

He has reservations, though, on the philosophical and ideological conflict between some of the leaders that wrestled Africa from the claws of colonialism and the successor generation of political leaders.

Prof. Wole Soyinka did not mince words about his love for Africa as a whole, blacks or "white" but worried about the cultural dichotomy between Africans, southern or northern of the Sahara.

He urged the youth population that is estimated to be 64% of Africa's entire population to be more active, involved and pragmatic, equipped to interrogate the seeming aloofness of some of today's political leadership, as one of the factors that can help the rennaisance crusade.

Agreeing that the dangers of a disunited and perennially conflict prone region would catch up with everyone somehow someday, he counselled Africa's millennia generation not to give-up.

Kongi, in his frankness reiterated his belief in Africa's future, and encourages generational trust and concern in activities on the motherland.

He counsels the consideration of Africa's rich culture and tourism as veritable vehicles to push back the frontlines of the stumbling blocks to Pan African ideals, a view which is in tandem with the #PEOPLE TO #PEOPLE #ENGAGEMENT #PARADIGM as being canvassed by the ONE UNITED AFRICA agenda team.

W.S himself, four times victim of hostilities, that he believes bothered on resentment from an airport in Africa, inspite of his position and status, he wondered how people of lesser public profile have coped or are coping. He opined that we can brave the odds and scale the debilitating obstacles in the way of a more united Africa.

In endorsing the #AFRICA2020 and her #ONEUNITEDAFRICA crusade for the rennaisance of Pan Africanism, Prof. Wole Soyinka acknowledged the vision and determination of the team and the Convener, for deeming it necessary within limited resources and conflicting alternatives to think and work for the renaissance of Pan African spirit of brotherhood, to reunite Africa with a view to make brothers, brothers again.

The #AFRICA2020: #ONEUNITEDAFRICA Agenda had received endorsements from, two former Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, their Excellencies, Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR), The first President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Former Secretary General Commonwealth, the first and only black till date, His Excellency, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, His Excellency, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoferry Onyeama, Federal Legislator, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Cooperation and Intergration in Africa, Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago representing Chanchanga Federal Constituency of Niger State, Hon. Shina Abiola Peller, Federal Legislator representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State, and Showbiz impressario, His Excellency, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Former President, Africa Business Round Table, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, Basorun Dele Momodu, Publisher, Ovation Magazine International, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, Ace Journalist and Former Presidential Spokesperson, House of Representatives Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, and Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.


Signed:
Lanre ARIBISALA
Director, Public Communications
#ONEUNITEDAFRICA