By Wole Balogun, Ph.D
(S.A Media to VC)
The Director of Gender Studies of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Dr. (Mrs.) Tosin Kooshima Tume, has been garlanded with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), in recognition of the consistent work and immense impact that she has made in theatre scholarship and practice.
Dr. Tume who is also on the global scene as the Lead Convener, African Women Playwrights Network (AWPN), and Secretary, African Theatre Association (AfTA), was decorated on Friday, September 5, 2025, during the weeklong SONTA annual conference, hosted by the Department of Theatre and Film Arts of the Lagos State University, Ojoo. As an icing on the cake, Dr. Tume who has previously served SONTA in various capacities such as Events Manager, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary, was overwhelmingly elected as new the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association.
A letter signed by Professor Gowon Ama Doki, (FSONTA, MNAL), The SONTA national President (now immediate past president), and dated 16th June, 2025, notified Dr. Tume, who was then the Acting Head, Department of Theatre and Media Arts, FUOYE, of her nomination for the prestigious award. Titled, “NOMINATION FOR SONTA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD”, the letter reads in part: “With compliments of the Board of Trustees, members of the Executive Committee, and the entire membership of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), I am pleased to inform you that you have been nominated as a recipient of this year’s SONTA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
“This is one of the yearly statutory awards, reserved for trained theatre artists in Nigeria, with a distinguished record of service to Institutions, Government, and the Nigerian Society.
“As a professional body, we have watched with admiration how you have silently brought to bear on the profession a sense of pride and worth, with your scholarly contributions through research, teaching, and community service.
“It is in recognition of the above that you were unanimously nominated for this prestigious award. It is our firm belief that this award, which is the Society’s way of identifying and encouraging hard work, will spur you towards greater efforts at improving the theory and practice of theatre in Nigeria.”
While I congratulate you on this great honour, please be assured of my highest regards on behalf of SONTA.”
