Biodun Jeyifo, Professor Emeritus of English at Cornell University and of Comparative Literature and African and African American Studies at Harvard University, will deliver the keynote address at the 16th edition of the Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series (WSCMLS).
The WSCMLS is organized annually by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) to discuss various topical issues related to the media’s impact on Nigeria’s democracy and societal health.
Motunrayo Alaka, the Executive Director, WSCIJ, also said in a statement sent to WikkiTimes that Umaru Pate, Professor of Media History and Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, will chair the occasion.
“Since 2009, the event has been held on July 13th to honor Professor Soyinka on his birthday. Over the years, WSCIJ has been instrumental in bolstering democracy in Nigeria through its lectures and numerous initiatives,” the statement said.
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“This event, themed “The Death of Truth? Realism, Literature, and Journalism in an Age of Disinformation will mark the 90th birthday of Professor Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature,” the statement added as the lecture which will hold on July 13 in Lagos.
It added that other panel of speakers include “Chidi Odinkalu, Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at The Fletcher School, Tufts University; Odia Ofeimun, poet, author, and political scientist; Kadaria Ahmed, CEO of RadioNow 95.3FM; Chiamaka Okafor, Co-founder of the Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue Foundation (MILAD); Ohi Alegbe, media practitioner; and Tolulope Adeleru-Balogun, Head of Programmes at News Central TV.”
Mrs. Alaka emphasized the significance of this year’s theme in the face of escalating disinformation, underlining the responsibility of the media and literary sectors in upholding truth and realism in their narratives.
“The theme of this year’s lecture addresses the critical issue of truth in contemporary storytelling, spanning realistic art, literary fiction, and journalistic reporting. It aims to explore the challenges posed by the current age of disinformation and the vital role that writers, artists, and journalists play in maintaining and promoting truth,” it said.
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