Soyinka to head Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, OSOGBO
Osun state Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola yesterday announced the appointment of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo.

The immediate past administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola had established the centre in 2009, with the approval of The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Until yesterday Oyinlola was the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the centre.

The state government had before now sought for the consent of the state House of Assembly to change the modus operandi of the centre and also change the membership of its board of trustees.

The State House of Assembly had last week amended the laws establishing the centre.

But the development did not go down well with Oyinlola who reportedly threatened to challenge the amendment of the laws and also the change in the centre Board of Trustees.

However, the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (Amendment) Law 2012 signed into law last month stipulates that “the Governor or any other appointee appointed by the Governor shall be the chairman of the board.”

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stated that the new board will have concurrent responsibility to develop the Yoruba World Heritage Centre to be called New Ife in Ile-Ife, Osun state.

The board, according to the law, will also comprise two representatives of the academia, four representatives of Arts and Culture, a representative of the UNESCO and Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO.

Soyinka’s choice as the chairman of the Board, according to the statement, was informed by his global reach as a culture icon and promoter.