Tinubu Don Reopen National Arts Theatre.

Nigeria’s famous National Arts Theatre for Iganmu, Lagos, don get fresh new look after four years wey dem dey renovate am. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially reopen am on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Di big event wey happen on di same day as Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration, also come with new name for di national monument, now e be Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, to honor Africa first Nobel Laureate for Literature. Di president talk say di project mean plenty to im, and he announce say dem go create Artists’ Endowment Fund wey Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) go manage, and he promise say he go put money inside am too. Tinubu talk, Na time for CBN governor and im team make dem start dis endowment fund, and I go contribute my own. He talk say di fund go support creative industry and make sure say e dey sustainable. For im speech, Tinubu praise Prof. Wole Soyinka as one of di most talented and creative minds for Africa and a big treasure for di world and Nigeria. He remember di times wey dem both share during Nigeria fight for freedom, and talk say to rename di theatre na correct and well-deserved respect. Di president use di occasion to congratulate Nigerians for Independence Day anniversary, and he beg everybody for inside and outside di country to dey talk better things about Nigeria. We suppose stop to dey talk bad things about Nigeria. Dis na country of proud people, confidence, and hard work. Make we build am together. Nigeria go succeed, he talk. Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso talk say di renovation cost N68 billion, and di Bankers’ Committee pay di full amount. He explain say di project no just be corporate social responsibility, but na investment for Nigeria future. Cardoso talk di history of di theatre from when dem finish am for 1976 and when dem officially open am during FESTAC ’77, describe am as light wey dey shine African creativity but wey don dey suffer neglect for long time. In 2020, Federal Government approve one big public-private partnership with CBN for Bankers’ Committee side. Wetin start as big dream don now turn to fine reality, he talk. He add say di new centre get world-class performance halls, cinema spaces, art galleries, African literature library, rehearsal studios, medical facilities, plus modern outdoor gardens. Most importantly, e join Lagos Blue Line rail system to make culture dey central for city life. Lagos State Governor,

Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praise President Tinubu and him wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, for coming di event, and talk say di project mean plenty for Nigeria 65th anniversary. He reveal say Lagos State give extra land and make sure say Blue Line rail get stop for di complex to make am easy for people to waka go. Today commissioning na just di start. To bring dis theatre back to life na sign say bigger work dey for artistic and cultural excellence for Lagos and Nigeria,” Sanwo-Olu talk. For one speech wey get both humour and deep meaning, Prof. Wole Soyinka talk say he accept di honour “with mixed feelings,” as he remember how he don always blast leaders wey dey name public monuments after themselves. I don get bad mouth for calling out people wey dey use public buildings name themselves, and now na me dem don use,” he talk with small laugh. But dis building owe me, e nearly shock two of my actors to death one time,” Soyinka add, as di crowd burst into laughter. But di Nobel laureate still gree say di honour get deep meaning for di future, and he hail di Bankers’ Committee for turning wetin he once call “irredeemable” into one big cultural treasure. Di reopening come with plenty cultural display, National Troupe perform, Gerald Eze and im group do Akuko’na Egwu, and Fela and di Kalakuta Queens wey Bolanle Austen-Peters produce scatter di stage. Plenty big people show face for di event, senators, governors, House of Reps members, people from di creative industry, and culture lovers full ground. Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mrs. Hannatu Musawa, hail President Tinubu for im fresh focus on di creative industry, talk say: Never for Nigeria history culture don get dis kind serious support. She still thank Lagos State Government, di Bankers’ Committee, and di General Manager/CEO of National Theatre, Mrs. Tola Akerele, for dia big role in making di rebirth of di historic building come true. For President Tinubu, di reopening no be just culture celebration, na sign of Nigeria’s fresh beginning. As he talk am: Di National Theatre no go fall into neglect again. E go create jobs, give people hope, and stand as symbol of wetin we fit achieve together. Mrs. Tola Akerele talk say to reopen di Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and di Creative Arts na strong foundation to build creative economy wey go compete for global level and bring real economic value for creatives and culture people for Nigeria. She congratulate President Tinubu, Minister Musawa, Governor Sanwo-Olu, di CBN Bankers’ Committee, and di Board of Theatre Partners Limited for di successful completion and reopening of di National Theatre. Di massive renovation na di CBN Bankers’ Committee fund and carry out, with di Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy providing strategic oversight. Di Centre go dey managed by Theatre Partners Limited, a joint venture company wey Federal Government and di Bankers’ Committee form through public-private partnership.