A ‘new’ cultural space has joined the growing list of art houses in Lagos State and the art community is happy.
For many years, after the demise of Elder Steve Rhodes, the music impresario and a Board of Trustee member of the hall, the Glover Memorial Hall in the heart of Lagos lay practically desolate.
It was abandoned, unbefitting of any worthy event. It was leaking and smelling and was definitely a shadow of its old self. It only entertained a few commercial activities that had no bearing to its original concept.
Then sometimes in 2017, the former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, FCA took personal interest.
He was already building four multi-purpose theatres across the state and had started the transformation of the J.K Rendle Centre in Onikan into a mightily impressive Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, for which the British Museum had promised to release 20 artefacts taken away from Lagos.
Ambode’s thinking was that with a buoyant arts scene helped by new cultural spaces, a functional Glover Memorial Hall would add to the colour and conviviality expected of a culture-conscious city.
And so first, he released the hall to Qudus Onikeku, the brain behind Q Dance company and the annual Dance Gathering festival as a base for their rehearsals, performances and temporary office.
Then about a year later, the former governor decided the historic hall was ready for a total make-over which he started towards the end of 2018 under the joint supervision of the ministries of Works and Tourism, Arts & Culture.
Remodelled Lagos Glover Memorial Hall Remodelled Lagos Glover Memorial Hall 
Remodelled Lagos Glover Memorial Hall 
Remodelled Lagos Glover Memorial Hall
Last week, the refurbished hall finally roared to life with an unveiling ceremony by Ambode’s successor, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the 1000-capacity hall on Customs Street in Lagos Island, Sanwoolu assured Lagosians that his administration would not neglect the real identity of Lagos, adding that he would not relent in his efforts to make the creative industry as well as entertainment and tourism thrive.
“The completion and formal commissioning of the remodeled Glover Memorial Hall reflects our determination to rebuild Lagos, revamp our historic/public assets and also develop the Entertainment, Creative, and Tourism Sector, which is one of the pillars of our T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.
“Our administration is mindful of the fact that the tourism and entertainment sector is an integral part of socio-economic development, and the overall wellbeing of our citizens, which is why this sector will not be neglected in our drive to make Lagos a megacity. We are committed to innovatively seek ways of providing the enabling environment for the tourism and entertainment sector to thrive.
“Today’s event signals a gradual return of activities within the tourism and entertainment sector. It is a boost for our creative practitioners and entertainers as well as the necessary catalyst for economic growth because if we properly harness our human and capital resources, tourism and entertainment will become major contributors to socio-economic growth and development.
“I assure you that the remodeled Glover Memorial Hall will not only boost activities in the entertainment and creative sector, it will also restore the glorious days when it served as a relaxation point for Lagosians including those who live and work on the Island. It is a testament to a splendid past and an indicator of a more glorious future in which Lagosians have the jobs and opportunities that they require to flourish,” he said.
The hall was initially scheduled to open in December 2020 and host the year’s edition of ‘The People’s Festival’ but the 10-day Christmas-themed fest which was billed to headline the QDance presentation, among others, but it was reportedly cancelled due to COVID19 concerns.
Sanwo-Olu, who also inspected the J.K Randle Centre which is also nearing completion recounted his administration’s deliberate efforts and interventions to ensure that creative practitioners are able to find their feet in the Post COVID-19 era.
In his words: “We have disbursed One Billion Naira (N1billion) to practitioners in the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sector as a financial stimulus to get the sector moving again and to overcome the challenges caused by the pandemic.
“In addition, I recently approved the training of 1,480 aspiring creative practitioners who are desirous of gaining world-class skills and career advancement. This initiative is in line with two of the development pillars of our T.H.E.M.E.S agenda: Education and Technology; as well as Entertainment and Tourism. It is also a deliberate step to make world-class training available to practitioners in the Nigerian Creative Industry.
“As I speak, about 1,500 creative practitioners have been scheduled for both physical and online training under a public-private partnership initiative geared towards empowering our people for inclusive growth, economic liberation, and the overall improvement of the lives of our people. Lagos State is blessed with brilliant, dynamic, and creative practitioners who are indispensable to our growth agenda; we will ensure that their talents are not wasted.”
In her remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said the restored Glover Hall was a boost for the fifth pillar of the Greater Lagos agenda, which is “Entertainment and Tourism.”
The Glover Hall was built in 1887 in honour of the second Governor of Lagos Colony, Sir John Hawley Glover and in 1903 was the first to host the public screening of a film in Nigeria.
