Following the completion of the first phase of the rehabilitation of the National Arts Theatre, which was led by the Central Bank of Nigeria , the entertainment arena is set to host several creative and tourism events, one of which is the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the federal government conference, THISDAY has learnt.
In 2020, the apex bank and the Bankers Committee collectively agreed to invest over N65 billion to rehabilitate the National Theatre and return it to its former glory, working closely with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Lagos State Government.
But THISDAY further gathered that the project is not just about restoring a building but also creating an ecosystem of support for the creative sector, as part of what is called the Lagos Creative & Entertainment Centre . He said: “The National Theatre is one of the symbols of Nigeria’s culture and heritage and must be at the heart of our work to enhance and celebrate the creative industries.
“Together, we are not just restoring the National Theatre to its former glory, but we are establishing the wider foundations on which we can build a truly world-class creative sector, at home,” Emefiele added. He said it was costing the bankers’ committee almost $100 million to “resuscitate and revamp the National Arts theatre.”