Refurbished National Theatre game hanger in creative industry
The federal government says the on-going renovation project of the National Theatre in Lagos, when completed, will be a haven for budding artists and a game changer for the creative industry.
Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture,stated this on Monday when he featured on the Nigeria Television Authority programme “Good Morning Nigeria”.
The minister was reviewing the recently concluded UNWTO Global Tourism Conference which was the first event to be held at the refurbished national monument.
Completed in 1976, in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) held in 1977, the National Theatre was abandoned for decades to rot away.
In 2020, the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee, collectively agreed to invest over N65 billion to rehabilitate the monument and return it to its former glory, working closely with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Lagos State Government
The minister said they had sent pictures of the first phase of ten cations of the iconic monument across the world and it had received rave reviews because many people never believed it could be revived to that world class standard.
He said the second phase of the rehabilitation works would include a 5,000-seater main amphitheatre comparable to anything else in the world, flanked by two world-class cinema rooms, banquet halls, and a library.
Mr Mohammed said in addition to restoring the main structure, four signature clusters consisting of a building each to support emerging talent in the music, film, fashion, and IT sectors would also be constructed
According to the minister, a 500-bed hotel, 250-car park block, a police station, a fire station, and a visitors’ welcome centre which will house commercial and retail facilities, administration and management offices would also be constructed.
He said in addition to restoring the Arts Gallery and Museum in the original structure, there would be a Museum for Nollywood within the complex.
The minister added that for ease of transportation, a terminal of the ongoing Lagos light rail is already being constructed in the premises.
(NAN)
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