Tag: NATIONAL THEATRE

TAMPAN, COSON react over renaming of National Theatre

The Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Practitioners Association Of Nigeria (TAMPAN) on Friday said renaming the National Arts Theatre after Prof. Wole Soyinka would inspire the younger generation to thirst after excellence.

President Bola Tinubu in a tribute to the Nobel Laureate, in commemoration of his 90th birthday on Friday, said the National Arts Theatre in Lagos will henceforth be known as Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.

The President said this was in appreciation for Soyinka’s remarkable contributions toward the growth of the literary industry.

Mr Bolaji Amusan, National President of TAMPAN, in an interview , said “this is a reward for excellence long overdue”.

Amusan congratulated Soyinka, urging Nigerian youth to emulate his virtues to attain success.

“This is a reward for excellence for Wole Soyinka. When things like this happen, it will inspire the younger generation to do more.

“For us at TAMPAN, it is an honour long overdue. We congratulate him and wish him sound health, more achievements even after 90,” he said

Soyinka is a playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist.

He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature for his wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones fashioning the drama of existence, the first sub-Saharan African to win the prize in literature.

Meanwhile, Tony Okoroji, Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), has commended the Federal Government for renaming the National Arts Theatre in Lagos after Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

Okoroji, in an interview on Friday in Lagos, said Soyinka deserves such recognition for the respect he commands on the global stage.

President Bola Tinubu disclosed the development in a tribute personally written and signed by him on Friday in Abuja, to mark Soyinka’s 90th birthday.

The President renamed the National Arts Theatre as Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

“Wole Soyinka deserves the honour, he has distinguished himself, he earns lots of respect across the world.

“We need to continue with this, to build structures of arts and name them after distinguished Nigerians and not politicians.

“Let us begin to name structures after our beautiful musicians, literary giants and visual artists also,” Okoroji said.

He, therefore, urged the federal government to rename other monuments after Nigerian legends who have served the nation.

“Government should also remember others who have made the country proud like Chinua Achebe, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Victor Uwaifo, Sunny Okosun and more,” he said.

July 12, 2024
Reaction as Tinubu renames National Theatre after Wole Soyinka

President Bola Tinubu has renamed the National Theatre, Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos, as Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

The President disclosed this in a tribute personally written and signed by him on Friday in Abuja to mark Soyinka’s 90 birthday.

“I am delighted to announce the decision of the Federal Government to rename the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

“We do not only celebrate Soyinka’s remarkable literary achievements but also his unwavering dedication to the values of human dignity and justice,” said the President.

He said he joined admirers around the world in celebrating the 90th birthday of Nigeria’s iconic son and the world-renowned Soyinka.

“Tomorrow the July 13 will be the climax of the series of local and international activities held in his honour.

“To underscore the global relevance of the literary giant, a symposium, along with poetry reading, was held in Rabat Morocco on July 9, an event organised by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA),” said the President.

He said Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserved all the accolades as he marked the milestone of 90 years on earth.

“Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work. It is also fitting we celebrate this national treasure while he is still with us.

“When he turned 80, I struggled to find words to encapsulate his achievements because they were simply too vast.

“Since then, he has added to his corpus with his series of Interventions, which have been published in many volumes,” he said.

He described Soyinka as a colossus, a true renaissance person blessed with innumerable talents.

“He is a playwright, actor, poet, human rights and political activist, composer, and singer. He is a giant bestriding not just the literary world but our nation, Africa, and the world.

“He remains the shining light of our nation, the gadfly that pokes our national soul, decrying tyranny and oppression, urging us to become better as a nation.

“He is one Nigerian whose influence transcends the Nigerian space and who inspires people around the world,” said the tribute.

Tinubu stated that since Soyinka’s youth, he had been a vocal critic of oppression and injustice wherever it existed, from apartheid in South Africa to racism in the United States.

“Soyinka always speaks truth to power.

“Beginning from his 20s, he took personal risks for the sake of our nation. His courage was evident when he attempted to broker peace at the start of the civil war in 1967.

“Detained for two years for his bravery, he narrated his experience in his prison memoir, ‘The Man Died.’

“Despite deprivation and solitary confinement, his resolve to speak truth to power and fight for the marginalized was further strengthened,” said the President.

He said the early writings of Soyinka such as ‘The Lion and the Jewel,’ ’Death and the King’s Horseman,’ not only testified to his mastery of language, his innovative storytelling, but also his unflinching commitment to enthroning a fair and just society.

“Our paths crossed during our just struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“When faced with a trial in absentia and death sentence by the military regime at home, he galvanised opposition in exile through NALICON and NADECO.

“His global stature made him the face of our struggle to validate June 12 and restore democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

According to the President, “today, I join the world to celebrate his profound influence on generations of writers, scholars, and activists who have been inspired by his work.

“I celebrate him for giving us the spark to fight and confront military dictators in our country.

“I celebrate him for his enduring spirit and for teaching us that literature and drama can be used as a powerful tool to challenge the status quo.

I wish Professor Soyinka an incredibly happy 90th birthday.”

He prayed that Soyinka continue in good health to find creative fulfilment in the next decade leading up to his centennial.

“May he continue to inspire us all to build a nation where people are free from oppression and our teeming youths can live up to their dreams without being a wasted generation,” he said.

Renaming National Theatre after Soyinka a fitting recognition – NFVCB DG

The Director-General of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shuaibu Hussaini, has commended President Bola Tinubu for renaming the National Arts Theatre in Lagos, after Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

Hussaini, in an interview on Friday, described the development as “the kind of recognition one will wish for a giant like Wole Soyinka”.

President Tinubu disclosed renaming the National Theatre in a tribute personally written and signed by him on Friday in Abuja, to mark Soyinka’s 90th birthday.

The President renamed the National Theatre as Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

It read: “Professor Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades as he marks the milestone of 90 years on earth.

“Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work.

“It is also fitting we celebrate this national treasure while he is still with us.

“I am, accordingly, delighted to announce the decision of the Federal Government to rename the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.”

Hussaini commended the President for his interest and passion for the arts.

“It takes somebody who is passionate to remember that this kind of man needs to be recognised with this kind of iconic structure like the National Theatre.

“It is a welcome development. I am happy because there is nothing you want to name after Soyinka that will be enough compared to what he has done in the literary world.

“So, this is a fantastic news and welcome development. It is also the President’s interest that made him create a separate ministry for arts, culture, and creative economy because culture has always been an appendage of the Ministry of Information.

“For us in the arts, this is a fitting reward and recognition for the great feat that Wole Soyinka has achieved, not just for himself, but for Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” Hussaini said.

July 12, 2024
National Theatre fire: 4 cows, 3 goats burnt at NCAC office Lagos

No fewer than four cows, and three goats kept at the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), National Theatre Complex, Iganmu, Lagos, were killed in a fire outbreak on Saturday night.

The Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Amodu Shakiru, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

Shakiru said that the fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion, which almost spread to the Artistes Village in Iganmu.

“Property destroyed includes, four cows and three goats, suspected dead as resulted of the fire. Firemen moved in to stop the inferno and our men with others put the fire off completely.

“The said property belongs to the National Council of Arts and Culture, located opposite Artistes Village. There is no human casualty involved,” he said.

December 31, 2023
Management clarifies fire incident National Arts Theatre

The management of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, says the gas explosion which occurred at the theatre complex on Saturday night “is a minor setback which did not affect any part of the cultural edifice.”

The management, in a statement issued by Olubunmi Adebimpe, Press Secretary to the General Manager of the theatre, said that the fire occurred in a remote area annexed to the theatre.

Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Amodu Shakiru, had confirmed that the fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion.

The management said: “Our attention was drawn to the above misleading headline first published on the X handle of Leadership Newspaper earlier today.

“We would like to state that the headline is misleading. Fire did not raze the National Theatre building that is currently being rehabilitated.

“The fire occurred at a remote area annexed to the National Theatre environment, formerly occupied by Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), around a portion of land called the Artistes’ Village.

“The area is miles away from the National Theatre main building, currently under rehabilitation.

“We also like to state that even in the area it occurred, there was no structural and or human damage and none of our facilities are affected.

“The National Arts Theatre holds a special place in our hearts as a symbol of artistic expression, cultural heritage, and national pride.

“As custodian of this iconic institution, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all visitors, staff, and artists.

“We commend our Emergency Response Team and especially, the Lagos State Fire Service for their immediate responses that put the situation under firm control.

“The management is currently working closely with the relevant government and law enforcement agencies to ascertain the actual cause of the fire in order to prevent its future occurrence.”

December 31, 2023
BREAKING: Explosion rocks National Theatre in Lagos

Explosion from a gas cylinder resulted in a fire incident that gutted a section of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu in Lagos State on Saturday night.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that the explosion and the resultant inferno started at about 10:00 p.m.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed the incident with the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, saying the situation had been brought under control.

“There’s been an exploded gas cylinder resulting to fire which the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is managing within the National Arts Theater,” Adeseye said

There was no casualty as of the time of this report, according to Adeseye.

Details shortly…

December 31, 2023
Lai Mohammed clears air on renaming National Theatre in Lagos

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has stated that the federal government is not re-naming the entire Lagos National Theatre complex, built-in 1976 to host the 1977 Festival of Arts, popularly known as FESTAC but rather renaming the complex housing the edifice.

Mohammed, said the complex housing the National Theatre would be known as Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre, with four creative hubs and other facilities currently under construction.

Mohammed made the clarification when he featured on “Good Morning Nigeria’’, a live programme on the Nigerian Television Authority, monitored by newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

“The controversy on the re-naming of the National Theatre is just a storm in a teacup.

“What we said in Spain was that there are lots of developmental projects going on within the National Theatre complex.

“You have the National Theatre fully refurbished and renovated, you also have four hubs each for music, fashion, IT and film. You cannot call all of them National Theatre again.

“The entire complex is what will be known as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre, comprising the National Theatre and the four hubs.’’

Mohammed said the hubs were being built to provide capacity in the creative sectors.

According to him, the music hub and the film hub will be respectively built and equipped with latest technology for recording and processing music and films.

He said it would forestall Nigerian artists and film makers from going outside the country like South Africa and other places to record, process and package their music or films.

In addition to the national theatre monument and the new four hubs, the minister said a modern police station, fire station and 500 capacity car park were also being constructed in the complex.

The minister expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the enabling environment for investment of 100 million dollars by the Bankers Committee, led by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the project.

“Regrettably, the National Theatre which was built in 1976 has been in a state of disrepair for decades without any form of renovation or proper maintenance.

“I want to express our gratitude to the Bankers Committee because there was no way we would have funded this with our budget allocation

“The donation of the 100 million-dollar investment in renovating the edifice and in developing the creative industry is an achievement of this administration.’’
Mohammed also thanked the Lagos State Government for its invaluable contributions in making the dream possible.

According to him, the Lagos State Government is investing a lot of money in the reclamation and dredging of the surrounding area which is by the lagoon.

He said the Lagos State Government was working with experts and the Federal Ministry of Environment to restore the Ebute-Metta creek so that water within the wetland would be clean for restoration of the flora and fauna in the area.

The minister added that the state was extending the blue rail line to have a terminal at the complex to ease traffic from and into the National Theatre and the hubs.

He expressed his optimism that the National Theatre renovation project, the construction of the hubs and other facilities in the complex would be ready by November for the hosting of the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.
On April 19 in Madrid, Spain, the minister signed a hosting agreement for the global conference with the Secretary-General of United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili.

The conference which would hold from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17 is expected to re-position the creative industry as the engine of growth not just for Nigeria or Africa but for all countries of the world.

April 26, 2022
BREAKING: FG renames National Theatre in Lagos

The Federal Government says the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, which is under renovation, will be known as Lagos Creative and Entertainment Center, upon completion.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,disclosed this on Tuesday in Madrid, Spain while signing an agreement on Nigeria’s hosting of first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.

The bilateral agreement was signed between Nigeria and United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at the organisation’s headquarters.

Mohammed disclosed that the global conference ,which would hold from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17,would be the first event to be staged at the newly refursbished edifice.

“Nigeria will be hosting the event at the National Theatre in Lagos, which is currently being renovated at a cost of 100 million dollars under a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee/Central Bank of Nigeria.

“It is the first of such renovation of the iconic edifice in over four decades.

“In addition to the renovation, new hubs are being constructed, within the premises of the National theatre, for fashion, Information, technology, film and music.

“With that, the National Theatre is now known as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre.

“In addition, the Lagos surface rail system ,to serve the National Theatre ,will be commissioned ahead of the Global Conference,’’he said

Mohammed said the signing of the bilateral agreement signified Nigeria’s commitment to host the event.

He, therefore, directed that the contractors handling the reconstruction project must ensure its prompt delivery for the global event.

The minister added that in an effort to ensure that the complex is ready for the hosting in November, he recently undertook an inspection tour of ongoing work there with stakeholders.

The stakeholders on the inspection tour, according to the minister, were Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu; the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare.

According to the minister, there was every indication that the venue would be ready early enough to host the global conference.

The Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Mr Ademola Seriki, who said he is a member of Board of Directors of the company handling the reconstruction project, said the edifice would be completed before the global event.

Seriki, who accompanied the minister to the bilateral agreement signing ceremony, thanked the UNWTO for giving Nigeria the right to host the maiden global conference.

He said the conference would bring a huge reputation to the country and assert Nigeria’s lead in music, theatre and other areas of entertainment in Africa.

Mr Folorunsho Coker, ,Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, was on the entourage of the minister.

The National Theatre, an iconic centre for performing arts, was established to preserve, present and promote arts and culture in Nigeria.

The construction of the monument was completed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture hosted in 1977.

April 19, 2022
Disputes over National Theatre land in court

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

Do agreements matter in Nigeria? It depends on who you are dealing with, a lawyer said without losing a breath. Does it matter if it is a business agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria? Lawyers would be at their best answering the questions on 18 March 2021 at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Our National Theatre is the matter, not venue, of the contention it does not deserve. Who owns it? Who does not own it? Should a common property with known ownership be in dispute? The court would decide this matter that has travelled several roads since it began nine years ago.

It dates more years back. Under President Olusegun Obasanjo the dilapidated National Theatre was put up for concession. The process stalled. A new drive began in 2012 and was deemed concluded when the Attorney-General of the Federation signed off on the concession agreement on 3 May 2017.

TopWideApeas Consortium won the concession and was duly announced the concessionaire for the development of the fallow lands surrounding the National Theatre Complex to an eco-friendly grand mini-city housing two five-star hotels, water theme park, arts and entertainments arcades, office complexes, shopping mall and a high-rise car park, as well as providing appropriate connections to the Lagos light rail Metro Blue Line station planned for the National Theatre Complex. TopwideApeas Consortium says it raised nearly $2biillon USD as a total investment portfolio for these projects.

Not a dime of the money was required from the government. Instead TopWideApeas was to pay billions of Naira in annual concession fees and taxes during the duration of the concession. It posted the concession bond requirement of N1 billion. The other gains were thousands of jobs that would be generated during a construction period of over four years and new jobs to manage the facility.

According to the concession agreement, all developments are to be handed over to the Federal Government in good and operating condition at end of the concession period.

The project was already being tagged a signature project of the Buhari Administration. The preservation of the National Theatre, our cultural edifice, one of the most famous landmarks of Nigeria, the epicentre of the monumental 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture, Festac, the global event that brought cultural troupes of black people all over the world to Nigeria, was on its way. Nigerians so hoped.

Statutory responsibility for the concession was vested on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, which had in May 2013 issued to the Minister of Tourism and Culture a letter of “No Objection” for “the development of complementary facilities to the National Theatre via Public Private Partnership, PPP, Procurement.” BGL Limited was ICRC’s Transaction Adviser.

At the very strong request of senior officers of the National Theatre and the involved government agencies, TopWideApeas Consortium assumed the extra responsibility for a comprehensive rehabilitation and upgrading of the Complex to synchronise with the planned new structures with the agreement that upon completion of the rehabilitation, the National Theatre would be handed over to the Federal Government for continued management by the Board of the Complex. The agreement increased the construction costs. TopWideApeas did not object.

Curious, new matters issued thence. Jadeas Trust staked its interests over the failed Obasanjo exercise. It sued the Federal Government. With all the processes concluded, the Minister for Information, Culture & Tourism Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s formal presentation of the contract details to the Federal Executive Council was stood down thrice due to the Jadeas Trust Vs. FGN court case. The case was subsequently resolved.

TopWideApeas now initiated the final move for the Minister of Information to get the final FEC approval – the latest drama surfaced.

By December 2019, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Minister for Information, Tourism & Culture (Lai Mohammed), Access Bank Plc and Herbert Wigwe representing the Bankers Committee were among defendants in a case TopWideApeas filed. The other Defendants were the Board of the National Theatre, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and Attorney-General of the Federation. The case was adjourned to 18 March 2021. TopWideApeas lawyers’ motion for interlocutory injunction to restrain any interference with the subject of the suit is equally pending.

These did not stop CBN and the Bankers Committee, acting on a supposed authority of the Federal Executive Council, to on 14 February 2021 assume control of the theatre. A similar lawlessness on 12 July 2020 had vast media coverage.

Beyond the legal matters, what is the interest of CBN in spending N25 billion in a project that the private sector has willingly taken up, at a time government is borrowing to meet its routine obligations? Who would manage the theatre after the CBN investment?

What is the worth of agreements that have sailed through the testy routes of government approvals? TopWideApeas has been on this project for nine years? Is there the ease of doing business agenda that the government promotes?

At a time of droughts in investments, why would government agencies turn against those who are committing their resources to Nigeria? What is the challenge with the TopWideApeas concession? Why would the government and its agencies not be willing to subject themselves to the law?

Interests in the National Theatre are global. TopWideApeas Consortium that raised the $2 billion for the project has partners from the United States, Russia, and the European Union. How would they understand how business works in Nigeria? Are we concerned that prospective investors – some could be connected to the ones involved in the National Theatre – could be watching the outcome of these tentative steps that have kept the business in the cold for eight years?

The National Theatre cannot continue hosting this show of impunity.

Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues

March 6, 2021
Bankers sign MOU on takeover of National Theatre

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has led the Bankers Committee to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on takeover of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, for the purpose of reconstructing the facility.

Information obtained from CBN’s website on Sunday indicated that the MOU was signed between the committee and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed.

Emefiele said that revamping the theatre would boost creative talents of the Nigerian youth.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support for the MOU and for his commitment to supporting the Nigerian youth to realise their full potentials.

Emefiele also unveiled the contractors selected for the job.

“We commend Mr President for his magnanimous approval for the handover of the National Arts Theatre, as well as the pivotal role he continues to play in providing the Nigerian youth with limitless opportunities to reach the summit of their capacities.

“Revamping the National Arts Theatre will unlock the creative talents of Nigerian youths in the fields of music, movie, fashion and information technology,’’ he said.

Emefiele said the Bankers’ Committee would provide funding for a prototype cluster labelled “The Signature Cluster” which consists of a building each for music, film, fashion and information technology verticals.

He said in addition, a visitors centre, police and fire stations and a 500-vehicle park would also be built.

The CBN governor named the main contractor as Cappa and D’Alberto Limited, the electrical sub-contractor as Nairda Limited, while the mechanical sub-contractor is VACC Limited,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that present at the ceremony were Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and Mr Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development.

Also, Mr Herbert Wigwe, Managing Director of Access Bank, who doubles as Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs and some representatives of the contractors also witnessed the ceremony.

February 15, 2021
FG hands over National Theatre to CBN, Bankers Committee

The Minister for Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday in Lagos handed over the National Theatre to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers committee for restoration and upgrade.

Speaking at the event, Mohammed said that the National Theatre, despite the arrangement, still remained a national heritage.

He said that the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture would continue to hold the keys to the iconic national heritage in spite of the Public-Private Partnership arrangement between FG and the Bankers Committee.

” Please permit me to make clarifications that this iconic National Theatre remains a national heritage and will not be ceded to any person or group as some naysayers are insinuating, it remains our national heritage.

” The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture will continue to hold the keys to the National Theatre on behalf of all Nigerians.

” What we are here to do is to handover the National Theatre for restoration and upgrade and also the 134 hectares of fallow land within the premises to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers committee for development,” he said.

The Minister said that the PPP arrangement would be in two phases which were; the restoration and upgrade of the National Theatre to its glory days, while the second phase would be the development of the fallow land surrounding the edifice.

” Another good news is that this project will not lead to any single job loss rather, it will create more, over 6,000 jobs will be created during the construction phase while the completed project could generate additional 600 permanent jobs and 2000 to 3,000 jobs, this is a good one,” he said.

Mohammed said that the project which had been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari would be a win-win arrangement for everyone involved.

”The place had been left for over four decades without any form of renovation.

” Government has no money to restore the complex as you know, this is the hub of the creative industry in Nigeria.

‘’The National Theatre was established for the advancement of the performing arts throughout the country, to also encourage the promotion of the social development and improvement of the quality of life.

” But its present state is not living to its billing,” he said.

The Minister said that the center, upon upgrade, would comprise creative clusters of fashion, music, film and information technology which would be supported by other facilities including multi-storey parking space to accommodate over 1000 cars.

” There would be the administrative and management offices, this will create massive job opportunities for the youths.

” I enjoin all of us to give our maximum support to this project so that we can bequeath a befitting national heritage to the younger generation.

” I appreciate everyone connected to the success of this project,” he said.

Also, the Minister for Youths and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, said that it was a privilege for him to be at the event which would see to revampimg the creative and entertainment centre.

Dare said many would wonder why the Minister for Youths was at the event forgetting that the youth would benefit more from the project as they are the most active part of the creative industry.

“The potential of the new National Theatre is massive job creation, talent discovery for our youths and the coming generation being an information and technology hub.

” With the Pandemic still biting hard, this project is much more divine and needed to battle the multi-headed challenge of unemployment, criminality and the negative impression that is thrust upon individuals who have chosen the life of crime.

” I commend the Bankers Committee for pioneering the vision and taking the risk to invest in the youth of this country.

” Some may see it as a risk, but I do not see it that way, I see it as an investment, even if it is a risk, it is a risk worth taking.” he said.

The minister commended President Buhari for giving approval for the upgrade of the national heritage.

He also commended other individuals involved in the handing over of the National edifice.

July 12, 2020