Nobel prize winner joins UJ staff

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has announced the appointment of Nobel laureate‚ Prof Wole Soyinka‚ to its Humanities Faculty.

Nigerian-born Soyinka‚ 83‚ the first African to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature joins the faculty as a Distinguished Visiting Professor.

Executive Dean of the faculty Prof Alex Broadbent said Soyinka's arrival would serve as an opportunity to inspire students‚ while attracting other renowned scholars.

"His presence at UJ is bound to attract other respected scholars in his and associated areas of work‚ thus enhancing UJ’s visibility and ability to attract even more excellent students and Scholars of repute‚ both locally and internationally‚" Broadbent said.

"He has been and continues to be associated with some of the best universities in the world. UJ’s drive to decolonisation as well as the Africanisation of knowledge have led to substantial dialogues at the institution [which] provided the university the opportunity to ask searching questions about our African identity and our role in nurturing the New Africa‚ and the future of our University‚" he added.

Broadbent said that in addition to his lecturing position‚ the high profile academic will also bring with him partnership with his Wole Soyinka Foundation‚ well-known known for its Wole Soyinka Award for Literature.

"Beyond the funds associated with the acclaimed Wole Soyinka Award for Literature‚ there is the added value of the Foundation meetings that will attract high profile participants and enhance literature work at UJ worldwide. This will result in the further realisation of the internationalisation of the curriculum‚ and add to UJ’s international partnerships and mobility."

- TMG Digital/The Times