The African Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Thursday has likened Mathematics as his saviour while in detention under military dictatorship. The sage shared his harrowing experience during his 27-month incarceration.
He said solving mathematical problems saved him from insanity while he was in the prison.
The literary icon spoke when he hosted academic laureates who did Ogun State proud in various academic competitions at his Kemta, Idi Aba residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Soyinka, said although he disliked the subject while in secondary school, mathematics became his saving grace while he was incarcerated by a military junta.
He added, “I hated mathematics at school but I had a C. I hated my teachers who were very brilliant at mathematics and they forced it down our throats whether we like it or not.”
Soyinka advised the while addressing the laureates to prioritise any subject above others.
He lauded Abiodun administration over its efforts on education which he said was evident in the emergence of the academic laureates who had shown great excellence and exploits.