In a deeply moving tribute at the 2025 Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF), Dr Sola Balogun, a respected academic from the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), was honoured as one of Nigeria’s significant arts and culture icons. The award, presented by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), recognises Balogun’s exceptional contributions to theatre, scholarship, and cultural life in Nigeria.
Held at Freedom Park on Lagos Island, the ceremony was part of a special “Night of Icons,” a feature of LABAF that paid homage to distinguished figures across theatre, film, literature, design, and broadcasting. In his address, CORA’s Secretary-General, Toyin Akinosho, underscored that the evening was conceived to celebrate contributors whose work has shaped Nigeria’s cultural foundation.
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A Proud Moment for FUOYE and Theatre Arts
For the FUOYE community, Dr Balogun’s recognition resonates deeply. A lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, he was specifically named among other luminaries during the ceremony. In response, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, offered warm congratulations, highlighting how Balogun’s award “adds colour to the glamour of FUOYE.”
This acknowledgement not only honours Balogun’s individual achievements but also reflects well on FUOYE’s intellectual and cultural standing. It demonstrates that the university is not just a centre of learning, but a source of national cultural leadership.
LABAF 2025: A “Literary Owambe” and More
The recognition unfolded during a landmark year for LABAF. The 2025 edition marked the 20th anniversary of its Green Festival, CORA’s long-running environmental programme for children and youth. The anniversary added a special resonance to the festival’s mission, bringing together literary celebration and environmental advocacy in a vibrant cultural moment.
Dubbed a “Literary Owambe,” the tribute evening brought together not only honoured icons but also friends, family, and members of the public for a night of readings, performances, and thanksgiving.
In total, CORA honoured more than twenty cultural titans who reached milestone ages this year—those in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Names on the roster ranged from theatre scholars like Dr Wale Okediran to celebrated filmmakers such as Ola Balogun, as well as architects, writers, designers, and media personalities.
The Significance of the Honour
Recognising Dr Sola Balogun alongside such a stellar lineup underscores his importance in Nigeria’s cultural ecology. CORA’s mission—to “educate, enlighten and empower” through celebrating custodians of artistic heritage—finds a powerful embodiment in Balogun’s career.
For young academics, theatre practitioners, and students at FUOYE, this honour is more than a personal achievement—it’s an affirmation that scholarship in the arts carries weight and can earn national recognition. For the broader cultural sector, it’s a reminder of the depth and diversity of Nigeria’s artistic legacy.
In celebrating him, LABAF 2025 has not only acknowledged a lifetime of dedication but also inspired a new generation to view arts and academia as tightly intertwined pathways to impact.
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