National Theatre: First phase of renovation completed

For the first time in 40 years, the Nigerian government has completed the first phase of the renovation of the country’s national monument, the National Theatre, situated in Lagos State

The government facilitated a collaboration that got the country’s Central Bank and the Bankers Committee to fund the renovation and used the facility to host the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) conference holding from Monday, the 14th to 17th of November 2022 in Lagos.

At the UNWTO first global conference on; “ Linking Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries,” Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed said tourism and culture industry is the biggest stimulus to socio economic recovery, job creation and climate impact mitigation.

The Minister further stated that the tourism and culture sector globally has the capacity to bring about inclusive development and foster international peace and cooperation which is what the world needs at this moment of great economic challenges.

He described as historic the hosting of the UNWTO global conference; “Today we are witnessing the making of history in two very important ways. First is the fact that this is the first time the UNWTO would be bringing stakeholders in tourism, culture and the creative industries together at a single forum to deliberate on issues of common interest. Secondly, this is the first event to be held since the completion of phase 1 of the 100-million-dollar  renovation of the iconic National Theatre. 

“It’s important to note that this is the first major renovation work on the National Theatre since it was built over 40 years ago. Many thanks to the Bankers’ Committee for this great job.”

Mohammed said the global conference, which opened on Monday with two experts’ workshops on tourism and culture, as well as tourism and the creative industries, comes at a time that Nigeria and the world over are seeking industries that can stimulate socio-economic recovery, alleviate poverty, mitigate the effects of climate change, accelerate job creation and inclusive development and foster international peace and cooperation.

“Within these premises, tourism, culture and the creative industries, therefore, present a huge potential to bridge this gap, especially at a time of great economic challenges the world over,” he added.

The highlight of the experts’ workshop was the discussion by the UNWTO Secretary General, Mr Zurab Pololi kashvili and the Minister of Information, Mohammed, with some primary school students on the importance of culture, tourism and the creative industries to national development.

According to Kashvili, tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing economic sectors prior to the pandemic, accounting for 7% percent of global trade and supporting as many as one out of ten jobs worldwide.

The National Theatre is one of the symbols of Nigeria’s culture and heritage

The monument was completed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture hosted in 1977.

The renovation costs $100million under a partnership between the Federal Government and the Bankers’ Committee/Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The CBN Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Osita Nwanisobi said the project was not just about restoring a building; but about creating an ecosystem of support for the creative sector as part of what is called the Lagos Creative & Entertainment Centre (LC&EC).

According to him, “When the second phase of the rehabilitation works is complete in March 2023, the National Theatre will be restored to its original glory. A 5,000-seater main amphitheatre comparable to anything else in the world will sit at its heart, flanked by two world-class cinema rooms, banquet halls, and a library.”

Additional Research/Vanguard/PIAK