The annual Festival of Unity organised by the National Arts Theatre has begun, with stakeholders praising the new management for ensuring continuity of the event.

The 2024 edition has the theme: “Rebranding Boundless Opportunities: Celebrating Unity and Inclusivity”.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday in Lagos, General Manager and Chief Executive of the National Arts Theatre, Tola Akerele, said the programme aimed to unite the nation through diverse cultures.

”And we believe this necessitates the continuation of the programme and its theme,” she said.

Mrs Akerele emphasised that Nigeria has immense potential to showcase to the world and that the National Theatre remains committed to promoting this.

“Our diverse cultures are what we will use to celebrate ourselves together in unity, and it’s essential for us to do this. The new management has rebranded the event to attract more activities, with a focus on exploring boundless opportunities in the culture and entertainment industry. We will have more initiatives and programmes to engage stakeholders in the industry, and by next year, we will hit the ground running,” Akerele said.

The event kicked off with a colourful display of talking drums and energetic dances from various troupes.

Up and coming musicians also had the opportunity to showcase their talents in music, dance, comedy, and drama shows, entertaining the audience.

The immediate past Secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Jide Ogunlana, praised the National Theatre’s initiative, saying it had been all-embracing in the past and would continue to contribute to the development of Nigerian culture.

“The National Theatre’s annual Festival of Unity aims to foster unity among different Nigerian cultures, and stakeholders believe this year’s edition will be a success. With its rebranded theme and focus on promoting Nigerian culture, the event is expected to bring people together and showcase the country’s immense potential,” Mr Ogunlana said.