PHOTOS: Wole Soyinka meets Brazilian president, presents translated copy of his book

Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, on Monday, met with Brazilian President Lula da Silva and presented a translated copy of his book.

Temitope Ajayi, senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, said in a statement on Tuesday that Soyinka met with Silva as the Nigerian leader engaged in other activities.

“Yesterday, while President Tinubu was carrying on with other activities of his state visit to Brazil, President Lula da Silva received Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka,” the statement reads.

“The global literary icon presented his translated book with the title: mito, literatura e o mundo africano (Myth, Literature and the African World) to Lula.”

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

On Monday, Tinubu arrived in Brasília, Brazil’s capital city, for a two-day state visit.

During the visit, Nigeria and Brazil signed five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen trade, diplomacy, science, aviation, and finance cooperation.

According to Ajayi, Tinubu praised Silva’s commitment to revitalising the partnership between both countries, noting that Nigeria’s economic space remains a virgin land, with opportunities for Brazilian companies.

He acknowledged efforts in addressing the critical challenges of local airline operations in Nigeria, primarily through establishing a service centre to serve as a hub for the subregion in essential repairs and maintenance of its ever-increasing fleet in Nigeria.

“Honourable Ministers of both countries, members of the Brazil Business Group, I have listened carefully to my friend, President Lula. We had a lengthy discussion. We talked about history and about African and Brazilian heritage,” Tinubu said.

“We tried to see why we are not at the level we wanted. We have allowed some problems and activities in the past to deter us from making progress and fulfilling our promises. But today we say that is the end of that.

“This is my third visit to the country. First, the visit to attend the G20. Second, on climate change, BRICS. And today, an official and state visit was very emotional.”