The National Theatre, Lagos, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, has officially reopened following a major renovation, marking a new era for Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries.
At the reopening ceremony, stakeholders described the facility as a beacon for the country’s creative economy and a renewed hub for African culture.
Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, said the event signified a turning point in Nigeria’s cultural and creative destiny. She noted that the theatre, first built in 1976, had always been a rallying point for African identity and a platform for amplifying Nigerian voices.
Musawa highlighted ongoing reforms in the sector, including the establishment of the Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation, the Creative Economy Development Fund, and the Motherland Initiative, which seeks to strengthen ties with the African diaspora.
“These reforms will empower Nigerian youth, attract investment, and project our creativity to the world,” she said, commending President Bola Tinubu for his support.
Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, after whom the theatre has been renamed, said he accepted the honour with mixed feelings, recalling his past criticisms of renaming public monuments. He, however, praised the restoration effort led by the Bankers’ Committee, noting the facility’s former state of decay.
“The roofs were leaking, there were pools of water everywhere, and electric wires were exposed,” he said. Soyinka urged continued investment in the arts, stressing that Nigerians should no longer need to travel abroad to experience world-class African performances.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Mrs Tola Akerele, described the reopening as the start of a new era. She said the restored facility was now equipped to host world-class events, offering platforms for culture, fashion, music, film and theatre.
“This building will be a real beacon for the creative space a ray of light on what can be achieved and how far we can go,” she said.
The renovation covered key areas including the main auditorium, banquet hall, cinemas, exhibition halls, sanitary facilities, circulation lobbies, and an industrial kitchen. Others include the VIP area, artists’ changing rooms, car park, fire station, perimeter fencing, CCTV, 1.21MW solar panels, and substructure pillars.
The facility is expected to host cultural events, international collaborations, and Nigeria’s golden anniversary of FESTAC in 2027.
