The National Theatre’s renovation and modernisation are now complete, according to the Bankers’ Committee. The principal hub for Nigeria’s performing arts is the National Theatre. The monument may be seen in Lagos’s Iganmu, Surulere district.
Remarkably, the renovations started in July 2021 when the Federal Government gave its clearance and the national building was turned over to the Bankers’ Committee. The Committee started this repair project to help the vast number of young Nigerians realise their enormous potential in the creative industry.
When the redesigned National Theatre opens for business, it will produce revenue, jobs, and foreign exchange gains, turning it into a centre for the arts and entertainment and a much-needed community place for Nigerian youngsters to grow and explore.
The 4,000-seat main bowl, the over 3,000-seat banquet hall, the two exhibition halls, the three theatres, the VIP areas, the actors’ changing rooms, the industrial kitchen, the clinic, the fire station, the lobbies inside the four National Theatre entrances, and the extensive roof repairs are just a few of the spaces that are being renovated.
Speaking on behalf of the Bankers’ Committee on a tour of the monument in Lagos on Wednesday, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Group, said that at the project’s inception: “We were shocked at the scale of the work that needed to be done, but we were also impressed by the possibilities that it represented. This is one of the largest scaled projects of its kind anywhere on the continent.”
He went on to say that the building has been restored to an international standard, BrandSpur national news stories report.
Continuing, he said: “The renovation of the National Theatre by the Bankers Committee showcases what is possible with the power of patriotism and collective responsibility on the part of the private sector in partnering with the Federal and Lagos state governments, to reignite hope and revive some of our national monuments and assets.”
The theater’s facilities have been improved to meet the highest international standards for performance and theatre. The entire heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system will be replaced, along with the power, water supply, and sewage systems, fire safety regulations, interior design upgrades with the installation of audio video lighting (AVL), a world-class engineering system, 17 passenger lifts, solar power, new furniture for the spaces and the restoration of artwork, including that on the building façade and internal wall panels.
The ring road, four themed landscapes, a car park block with 250 spaces, three entrance gatehouse renovations, and the installation of CCTV cameras and external street lighting were among the other exterior projects that supported the National Theatre.
Managing Director of Lotus Bank Ltd. and Bankers Committee representative Mrs. Kafilat Araoye spoke during the tour, describing the refurbishment of the National Theatre as a rebirth of a National Treasure and a restoration of our culture and heritage: “We are very excited about the completion of the renovation and upgrade of facilities of the National Theatre, we are indeed very proud of the work we have done here.”
“Upon completion, the Wole Soyinka Center for Culture and the Creative Arts (National Theatre) will not only be for arts, tourism, and culture but will also provide a venue for the international community to convene for conferences and enjoy world-class performances,” said, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, the governor of Lagos State in a statement.
However, it is pertinent to know General Yakubu Gowon’s military rule built the National Arts Theatre, which Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration finished in 1976. The completion took place in January 1977, in time to host the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77).
