The National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, currently undergoing renovation, would become the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre upon completion, the Federal Government said on Tuesday.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Tuesday in Madrid, Spain while signing an agreement for Nigeria to host the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.
Nigeria and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) signed the bilateral agreement at the organisation’s headquarters.
Mohammed disclosed that the global conference, from November 14 to 17, would be the first event staged at the complex.
“Nigeria will be hosting the event at the National Theatre in Lagos, which is currently being renovated at the cost of 100 million dollars under a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee/Central Bank of Nigeria.
“It is the first of such renovation of the iconic edifice in over four decades. In addition to the renovation, new hubs are being constructed, within the premises of the National Theatre, for fashion, information, technology, film and music.
“With that, the National Theatre is now known as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre.
“In addition, the Lagos surface rail system, to serve the National Theatre, will be commissioned ahead of the Global Conference,” he said
Mohammed said the bilateral agreement signified Nigeria’s commitment to host the event.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mr Ademola Seriki, and a member of the Board of Directors of the company handling the reconstruction said the theatre would be completed before the global event.
Seriki, who accompanied the minister to the bilateral agreement signing ceremony, thanked the UNWTO for giving Nigeria the right to host the maiden global conference.
He said the conference would bring a massive reputation to the country and assert Nigeria’s lead in music, theatre, and other entertainment areas in Africa.
