By Eva Irewole
In what could be described as the restoration of national pride, the Bankers Committee is on the verge of completing the renovation and upgrading of facilities at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The Committee disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Lagos during a media parley and tour of the new-look National Theatre complex.
The renovation exercise commenced in July 2021 following approval by the Federal Government and the subsequent handover of the national edifice to the Bankers’ Committee.
By restoring the glory of this iconic asset, the Bankers’ Committee aims to unlock opportunities for the youth in the creative sector, leading to job creation, income generation, foreign exchange generation, thereby developing a creative and entertainment centre with much needed community spaces for Nigerians, the committee said in a press statement made available to TCN.
The statement said facilities were upgraded to match the best standards of theatre and performance in the world.
“The entire Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system was replaced, fire safety standards upgraded, power, water supply and sewage systems were all replaced. Upgrade of interior design with the installations of Audio Video Lighting (AVL), world stage engineering system, 11 lifts, solar power, new furniture for spaces and restoration of Artworks including those on the internal wall panels and the building façade.
“The renovation works cover different spaces, including the 4,000-seater main bowl, over 3,000seater banquet hall, 2-nos. exhibition halls, 3-nos. cinemas, VIP spaces, actors’ changing rooms, industrial kitchen, over 300 new toilet cubicles, clinic, fire station, lobbies within the four National Theatre entrances and extensive roof repairs.”
Speaking on the Bankers’ Committee’s restoration of the National Theatre, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc. (GTCo) said, “I don’t think there are many countries in Africa that have the talent that we have in entertainment and the arts. All you can do when you have talented people, is to give them a platform to showcase their best. We will try to give a platform, where Nigerians who are in my opinion the best, have a chance to show the world that they are the best….”
The National Arts Theatre was constructed by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon and completed in 1976 by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. The completion coincided with the hosting of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77) in January 1977.
The national theatre was last week renamed by President Bola Tinubu as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel laureate who clocked 90 on July 13th.