The complex was built in 1976 to host the 1977 Festival of Arts, popularly known as FESTAC 77.

There were reports that the federal government had announced the renaming of the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

Information Minister, Lai Mohammed said upon completion, the facility under renovation will be known as Lagos Creative and Entertainment Center.

But the government on Tuesday said it is merely renaming the complex housing the edifice.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who spoke on NTA said the controversy on the re-naming of the National Theatre is just a storm in a teacup.

“What we said in Spain was that there are lots of developmental projects going on within the National Theatre complex.

“You have the National Theatre fully refurbished and renovated, you also have four hubs each for music, fashion, IT and film. You cannot call all of them National Theatre again.

“The entire complex is what will be known as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre, comprising the National Theatre and the four hubs.’’

This follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and contracts award signing ceremony held on Sunday in Lagos between the FG, represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and the   Bankers Committee, represented by the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele.

Also in attendance was the Minister for Sports and Youths, Sunday Dare, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu and Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs Herbert Wigwe.

Speaking at the ceremony, Emefiele said that the reconstruction and refurbishment of the National theatre as well as the proposed Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre will be completed in 15 months, with 35,000 jobs created in the process.

He said: “The idea behind the project, christened: ‘’ Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre,” is simple. Firstly, we seek to restore the glory of an iconic building by aligning most of the fabric and equipment and facilities in the building with the aesthetics of the 21st century, and secondly to develop an ecosystem of creative hubs on the adjoining 44Hectare parcel of land. This new facility will complement and enhance the National Arts Theatre.

“The Bankers’ Committee is providing funding for a prototype cluster located to the north of the National Arts Theatre, a development which we have labelled the “Signature Cluster”. This facility will be a convenor – providing space, support network, business development and community engagement for the creative, cultural and technology sectors. The Signature Cluster will consist of a building each for Music, Film, Fashion and Information Technology verticals. In addition to these, a Welcome/Visitor’s Centre, Police and Fire Stations, and structured parking for up to 500 vehicles will be built.

Speaking on the job creation prospect of the project, Emefiele said: “We anticipate that there would be at least 10,000 direct and indirect jobs created during the construction of the Lagos Creative & Entertainment Centre. We also project that over 25,000 people would be engaged in different sections of the centre when the Signature Cluster is completed, with anticipated multiplier effect of other job opportunities.”

The appointments include those of Mr Buki Ponle as the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria; Prof Sunday Ododo as General Manager/CEO, National Theatre; and Mr Francis Nwosu as the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council.

This was contained in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari appoints CEOs for Federal Ministry of Information and Culture’s agencies,’ by Mr Segun Adeyemi, spokesman to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

It read, “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Chief Executive Officers for nine of the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

“According to the approval letter, which was conveyed to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President, on Tuesday, Mr Buki Ponle was appointed Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria while Mr Nura Kangiwa was named the Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism.

“Mr Francis Nwosu was appointed the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council; Mr Ebeten Ivara, Director General, National Gallery of Arts; Mr Olalekan Fadolapo, Registrar/CEO of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria and Prof. Sunday Ododo, General Manager/CEO, National Theatre.

“Others are M. Ado Yahuza, Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation; Prof. Aba Tijjani, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments and Mrs Oluwabunmi Amao, Director General, Centre for Black And African Arts and Civilisation.

“The appointments take effect from September 1, 2020.”

The  CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed this on Monday during the Creative Nigeria Summit in Lagos, noted that banks are expected to officially declare the project on Wednesday.

He explained that this was part of the banking sector’s efforts to harness the innovative and creative energy of the youths, towards enabling them to create productive ventures that would support improved wealth and job creation in Nigeria.

Emefiele said, “This was the critical reason behind the CBN and the Bankers Committee decision, following our annual retreat in December 2018, to set up the Creative Industries and Financing Initiative. 

“Using the AGSMEIES fund through which the banks set aside on an annual basis five per cent of their profit after tax, our goal is to support startups and existing businesses in the creative industry space, as well as the development of a creative industry park across three major cities in Nigeria.

“With the kind support of the Federal and Lagos State Governments, the National Theater Iganmu in Lagos is expected to serve as the initial pilot for the Creative Industries Park. 

“Our plan is to develop a 40- acre  Creative Industry Park around the National Theater including giving the Theater itself tremendous facelift; thereby reopening the touring potential the National theater offered during the FESTAC 77 arts culture.”

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