The historic Yoruba Tennis Club (YTC) is set to usher in its centenary celebrations with a powerful intellectual statement, reaffirming its place as one of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions of culture, dialogue, and civic engagement. To officially commence activities marking its 100th anniversary, the club will host a landmark centenary seminar on February 5 at its iconic clubhouse in Onikan, Lagos, featuring Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.This inaugural event is more than a zceremonial opening; it is a deliberate return to the roots of the club as a meeting ground for ideas, leadership, and thoughtful discourse. Designed as the first in a special Centenary Seminar Series, the engagement signals a celebration anchored not only in history, but in intellectual substance and national reflection.A Century of Culture, Conversation, and Civic Thought.
The centenary celebration, themed “A Century at the Forefront of History and Tradition,” reflects the club’s legacy as a social institution that has consistently balanced tradition with progressive engagement. Over the coming months, the anniversary programme is expected to feature a range of activities that encourage reflection, learning, and idea-driven interaction among members and invited guests. Speaking on the significance of the opening seminar, the club’s General Secretary, Mr. Lookman Kotun, described the engagement with Prof. Soyinka as a defining moment for the centenary year. According to him, the choice of speaker and format sets a clear tone for celebrations rooted in depth, relevance, and meaningful dialogue.He noted that the session will provide a rare and intimate opportunity for participants to engage directly with one of Africa’s most respected literary and intellectual figures, fostering conversations that extend beyond celebration into critical thinking and shared values.Engaging the Mind: Conversations that MatterDiscussions during the seminar are expected to span a broad range of pressing themes, including literature, culture, nationhood, conscience, humanity, and the influence of history on societal values. These conversations align closely with the Yoruba Tennis Club’s long-standing identity as a forum where ideas are exchanged freely and responsibly.Professor Wole Soyinka’s presence adds profound weight to the occasion. As the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, Soyinka is globally celebrated for a body of work distinguished by artistic excellence, fearless inquiry, and moral clarity. His writings and public engagements have consistently examined power, freedom, justice, and the human condition.Beyond literature, Soyinka is widely regarded as a courageous voice for democracy, human dignity, and social accountability, making his participation especially fitting for a centenary defined by reflection on past, present, and future responsibilities.
Yoruba Tennis Club: A Living Institution. Founded a century ago, the Yoruba Tennis Club stands as one of Nigeria’s oldest and most resilient social and cultural institutions. Over the decades, it has evolved while remaining true to its founding ideals—serving as a hub for fellowship, leadership development, cultural preservation, and intellectual exchange.The club’s ability to maintain relevance across generations speaks to its commitment to dialogue and its openness to engaging with changing national and global realities. As it marks 100 years of existence, YTC’s centenary programme underscores the importance of institutions that do more than preserve tradition—they actively shape thought, values, and community.
Looking Ahead: With the centenary seminar featuring Prof. Wole Soyinka, the Yoruba Tennis Club begins its anniversary celebrations on a note of purpose and vision. It is a reminder that enduring institutions thrive not only by celebrating longevity, but by continuously nurturing ideas that enrich society.As the centenary year unfolds, the Yoruba Tennis Club reaffirms its role as a space where history meets intellect, tradition meets progress, and conversations continue to shape Nigeria’s cultural and civic landscape.