The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, says the amphitheatre (main bowl) of the National Art Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, will be completed in March 2023.

Mr Emefiele said this during the commissioning of the facility’s first phase on Tuesday in Lagos.

“This is just Phase A of the grand plans we have. We will be completing the theatre in March, where we will have the main bowl, which will take about 5,000 people capacity.

“It is going to be just as good as anything else you have seen around the world,” he said.

Mr Emefiele was represented by Aishah Ahmad, the deputy governor, Financial System Stability Directorate, CBN.

The apex bank governor said the theatre would have four verticals focused on IT, fashion, music and movies.

According to him, the verticals will enable young Nigerians to unleash all their creativity across the world.

Mr Emefiele appreciated the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, for their commitment to the creative industry and tourism, adding that the industry would help to build bridges and promote economic growth.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to look forward to coming back to the facility to enjoy all sorts of exciting events.

“Coming here, there are three cinema halls within this building; coming here to enjoy the cinema or coming for an art exhibition, so you could, once the tech space is ready, you could go there for hackathons.

“The possibilities are endless, and I think it’s a befitting monument to just how much Nigerian arts and Nigerian creative industry have pivoted themselves to the world,” he said.

The rehabilitation of the facility by the CBN, which started in 2020, is conducted in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, and over N65 billion has been invested in returning the theatre to its former glory.

(NAN)