Discussing corruption as a destructive force, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, emphasized the urgent need for a change in attitudes to combat the growing challenge of corruption. He spoke at the 26th Annual Wole Soyinka Lecture organized by the National Association of Seadogs, also known as Pyrates Confraternity. The event marked Soyinka’s 90th birthday, commemorating the group’s founding in 1952 by seven University of Ibadan undergraduates.
The lecture’s theme was “The Baby or the bathwater: Navigating the dark tunnels of systemic corruption to nationhood.” Soyinka praised the lecture delivered by former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, highlighting the pervasive nature of corruption in Nigeria and the collective effort required to combat it.
Addressing misconceptions, Soyinka clarified that the Pyrates Confraternity is not a sinister secret cult but an association established to advocate for justice and national progress. As part of the event, Soyinka and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, unveiled a book titled “Ship Ahoy,” documenting the confraternity’s 60-year history.
In his lecture, Fashola lauded Soyinka as a national and continental treasure, emphasizing the detrimental impact of moral corruption on society. He shared statistics on road crashes, expressing concern over the loss of lives and the need to address such preventable tragedies.