The Bankers’ Committee is near to completing the refurbishment of the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, which is viewed as a source of national pride.
During a media event on Tuesday, the Committee provided updates on the newly renovated National Theatre Complex.
The redevelopment, which began in July 2021 with Federal Government consent, intends to reinvigorate the theatre while also providing possibilities for young people in the creative field. This initiative is projected to generate jobs, cash, and possibly foreign exchange by transforming the theatre into a creative and entertainment hotspot.
The improvements include a new Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, enhanced fire safety measures, updated electricity, water, and sewage systems, a modern interior design, and advanced Audio Video Lighting (AVL) equipment. They also installed 11 lifts, solar panels, new furnishings, and refurbished artwork.
The renovation includes the 4,000-seat main auditorium, a banquet hall with seating for over 3,000, two exhibition halls, three cinemas, VIP areas, actors’ changing rooms, an industrial kitchen, over 300 new toilet cubicles, a clinic, a fire station, lobbies at the four entrances, and extensive roof repairs.
Segun Agbaje, CEO of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, stated, “Nigeria has tremendous talent in entertainment and the arts. Our goal is to give these brilliant folks a platform to demonstrate their ability and prove they are the greatest in the world.”
The Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77) was held at the National Theatre, which was erected by General Yakubu Gowon’s military rule and finished by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 1976.
