On Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned the newly renovated National Arts Theatre in Lagos, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, calling on Nigerians to embrace unity, optimism, and national pride
The event formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary and drew a distinguished audience, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, members of the National Assembly, diplomats, and cultural icons.
The multi-billion-naira renovation, driven by the CBN-led Bankers’ Committee in collaboration with the Federal and Lagos State governments, has transformed the iconic FESTAC ’77 structure into a modern creative hub.
In his address, President Tinubu hailed the renaming of the Theatre in honor of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, describing him as “one of Nigeria’s greatest assets and one of the world’s finest cultural figures.” He urged citizens to speak positively about the country:
“Stop talking about Nigeria in a negative tone. We are a proud people. This country will succeed, and together we will reap the fruits of our efforts. Please, lift Nigeria. Believe in Nigeria. Put Nigeria first.”
He pledged to contribute personally to an endowment fund to ensure the sustainability of the Centre, assuring: “This place will not go derelict again. We will keep it alive for generations to come.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu described the Theatre’s rebirth as symbolic of Nigeria’s renewed cultural consciousness, while CBN Governor Cardoso revealed that Nigerian banks invested N68 billion in the project, noting that it represents both cultural pride and economic foresight.
Soyinka, taking the podium, admitted to having “mixed feelings” about the Centre bearing his name but expressed joy at its transformation, urging that it be seen as collective property for Nigeria’s creative community.
The facility now boasts state-of-the-art performance halls, cinema spaces, exhibition galleries, a literature library, wellness centers, and digital integration, positioning it as a hub for art, culture, and innovation.
As fireworks lit the Lagos skyline on Independence Day, the commissioning of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts stood as both a renewal of Nigeria’s cultural legacy and a declaration of confidence in its creative future.
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