National Theatre: Bankers’ Committee restores national pride as edifice wears new look
By Editor
IN what could be best described as the restoration of national pride, the Bankers Committee are on the verge of completing the renovation and upgrading of facilities at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The committee disclosed this to the media on Tuesday in Lagos during a media parley and tour of the new-look National Theatre complex. The renovation exercise commenced in July 2021 following approval by the Federal Government and the subsequent handover of the national edifice to the Bankers’ Committee.
By restoring the glory of an iconic asset, the Bankers’ Committee aims to unlock opportunities for the youth in the creative sector, leading to job creation, income generation and foreign exchange earning, thereby developing a creative and entertainment centre with much needed community spaces for Nigerians.
The facilities within the complex are being upgraded to match the best standards of theatre and performance space in the world. The entire Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system was replaced, fire safety standards upgraded, with power, water supply and sewage systems all replaced. Upgrade of interior design with the installations of Audio Video Lighting (AVL), world stage engineering system, 11 lifts, solar power, new furniture for spaces and restoration of artworks including those on the internal wall panels and the building façade have been undertaken.
The renovation works cover different spaces, including the 4,000-seater main bowl, over 3,000-seater banquet hall, two exhibition halls, three cinema halls, VIP spaces, actors’ changing rooms, industrial kitchen, over 300 new toilet cubicles, clinic, fire station, lobbies within the four National Theatre entrances and extensive roof repairs.
While speaking on the Bankers’ Committee’s restoration of the National Theatre, Group Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc. (GTCO), Mr. Segun Agbaje, said, “I don’t think there are many countries in Africa that have the talent that we have in entertainment and the arts. All you can do when you have talented people is to give them a platform to showcase their best. We will try to give a platform, where Nigerians who are, in my opinion, the best have a chance to show the world that they are the best….”
Construction of the National Arts Theatre started during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon and completed in 1976 by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. The completion coincided with the hosting of the Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture (FESTAC ‘77) in January 1977 that entertained a global audience to an unforgettable Africa’s cultural showpiece.
One of the newly renovated cinema halls