Thursday, July 10, 2025

Main bowl of national theatre to be completed in March: Emefiele

When completed, the main bowl will have the capacity to contain about 5,000 people.

• November 15, 2022
National Theatre

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)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Bandits attack

States

Eight dead, others missing as bandits ambush vigilantes in Plateau

Mr Zhakom explained that the dead bodies of the deceased have been recovered and buried. 

Bola Tinubu and Donald Trump

Hot news Home top

Tinubu govt ignores U.S. concerns about Nigerian draconian visa policy, asks Trump to halt new three-month, single-entry rule

President Donald Trump’s administration announced the reduction of the five-year visa to only three months to curb visa overstays.

Linda Yaccarino

Heading 4

Linda Yaccarino resigns as CEO of Elon Musk’s X

Mr Musk acquired the microblogging platform in October 2022.

Lateef Fagbemi

NationWide

FG begins phase seven mass trials of terrorists

According to him, the trials are a cornerstone of the national commitment to upholding the rule of law.