Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka quietly paid the outstanding balance for author and filmmaker Onyeka Nwelue’s knee surgery after learning that he was struggling to settle the hospital bill.
Nwelue disclosed the act of generosity in a heartfelt post on X on Monday as he celebrated Soyinka’s 92nd birthday, describing the literary icon as a man whose kindness has repeatedly changed the course of his life.
According to the filmmaker, the knee surgery cost about ₦39 million, but he still owed the hospital approximately ₦10 million after the operation. 
Recalling their conversation, Nwelue said he informed Soyinka of his predicament, prompting the Nobel laureate to respond: “Let me get to Lagos this Friday and see what I can send.”
He said Soyinka requested the hospital’s bank account details, which he promptly forwarded. A few days later, Soyinka followed up after not hearing from him.
According to Nwelue, the playwright sent him a message saying he had contacted his bank to confirm that the transfer had gone through and also forwarded the transaction confirmation documents to help trace the payment if necessary.
When Nwelue contacted the hospital, he was informed that the entire outstanding bill had been paid. Reflecting on the gesture, he wrote, “What could I have done without him?”
In the same birthday tribute, Nwelue praised Soyinka’s vitality at 92, noting that the Nobel laureate remains active, uses his iPhone, sends emails and travels frequently. He added that he would remain forever grateful for Soyinka’s support.
The revelation comes just months after Nwelue disclosed that Soyinka played a key role in helping him secure residency in Japan by acting as his guarantor and writing a recommendation letter to the Japanese authorities. He also said Soyinka had earlier supported his literary career by helping to promote one of his books.
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