President Bola Tinubu will on Tuesday, October 1, inaugurate the newly renovated National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, in a statement on Monday, confirmed that the renovation project was undertaken by the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee as a contribution to preserving the nation’s cultural heritage and boosting the creative industry.
Tinubu, who in July 2024 renamed the edifice the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel Laureate, is expected to lead a distinguished gathering of state governors, lawmakers, diplomats, business leaders, academics, cultural icons and youth representatives to the event.
The reopening will feature performances by the National Troupe and other leading artists, with Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka scheduled to deliver special remarks. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso will give the welcome address, while goodwill messages will come from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.
According to the organisers, upgrades at the theatre include a completely overhauled HVAC system, new electrical, water and sewage facilities, enhanced fire safety measures, advanced stage and lighting technology, 17 new passenger lifts, solar power integration, refurbished interiors, furniture, and the restoration of historic artworks.
CBN Governor Cardoso described the project as “a testament to the Nigerian spirit,” while Sanwo-Olu said the centre would serve as both a hub for arts and culture and a world-class venue for global conferences. Musawa hailed the project as “a gift to the nation and a source of pride.”
Built during the Yakubu Gowon regime and completed in 1976 under General Olusegun Obasanjo, the National Theatre famously hosted FESTAC ’77, the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture.
