President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday night reassured Nigerians that the country will not split but will remain a strong, vibrant economy under his watch.

He appealed to Nigerians to stop painting a negative picture of the country.

Mr Tinubu spoke at the inauguration of the newly renovated National Arts Theatre at Iganmu, Lagos.

The renovation of the National Theatre was undertaken by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee in partnership with the Lagos and federal governments.

Mr Tinubu had renamed the edifice in July 2024 as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel Laureate.

The president, speaking at the reopening, appealed to Nigerians to refrain from discussing Nigeria in a negative tone. He also urged Nigerians to boldly and proudly project the nation’s image in a positive light and build it together in unity.

Mr Tinubu noted the beauty of the National Theatre and how it was used to project Nigeria’s rich culture before its degeneration. He also mentioned how the world gathered in the edifice to celebrate FESTAC 77. The president called for an endowment funding policy for the newly inaugurated complex, promising to be a contributor.

He commended Mr Soyinka, whom he described as one of the most talented and creative minds. The president said Soyinka deserved the monument to be named after him for his contribution to nation-building and the fight for freedom.

He said he enjoyed the evening, celebrating both the nation’s independence and the inauguration in a relaxed atmosphere, which promoted the nation’s rich culture and heritage.

Mr Tinubu thanked the CBN governor, the Bankers’ Committee, and other stakeholders for the actualisation of the revamp.

CBN governor Olayemi Cardoso explained the efforts that went into the project, which was approved by the government in 2020. He praised Mr Tinubu’s vision, which transformed the project from a restoration into a symbol of national renewal.

Mr Cardoso said CBN, the bankers’ committee, the Lagos government, and the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy came together with a shared purpose to deliver the project. He said the bankers’ committee alone committed N68 billion to the project and appealed to Nigerians to take ownership of the edifice.

Mr Cardoso said Nigeria’s creative industries are engines of growth, with the potential to generate billions in annual revenue while creating millions of jobs.

Mr Sanwo-Olu described the project as the heartbeat of the nation’s costume for development. He said unity held sway 50 years ago in the same hall when Lagos hosted the FESTAC 77.

“It was here that we showed what was possible when culture led the way, when art became the language of unity. That same spirit lives here today. This historic festival took place here in this very complex,” he said.

(NAN)