Stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism have lauded the recent handover of the National Arts Theatre Complex at Iganmu, Lagos, to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under the aegis of the Bankers’ Committee.
They urged the government to extend the same to other moribund national monuments across the country.
Recall that the handover followed the CBN and Bankers’ Committee unveiling of the Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI), which was to enable businesses to obtain loans up to the tune of N500 million.
The Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said the handover of the facility to the committee was timely, considering the external headwinds facing the country’s economy at the moment, adding that the renovation expected to be completed in 18 months, would have transformed the facility into Nigeria’s Creative Industrial Centre.
Speaking on the importance of the development, Mrs. Anyafulu Aninoritse, Director, Internal Quality Assurance, Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, lauded the initiative, adding that it was unthinkable that such a beautiful monument of national importance would put up for sale.
She commended the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Sports and Youths Development, Sunday Dare, for the initiative meant to save the National Stadium in Surulere and the National Arts Theatre that were the toast of many Nigerians in the early 70s.
Aninoritse expressed displeasure at the rot that had befallen the magnificent federal secretariat edifice and others across the country and called for a similar intervention to save and preserve them for this and future generations.
“The National Theatre is a national monument. When it was proposed to be sold off most people, especially those of us who are practitioners in the tourism industry wondered why Nigeria preferred to sell off the beautiful edifice like the national theatre, but thank God, common sense prevailed and the CBN has been asked to help renovate.
“I am sure that after that they will team up with the Minister of Information and Culture and allow something to be done about the edifice.
“Nigeria is a nation that forgets about things; we move from old items once we take possession of new ones. They don’t think about preserving what they have. So, it is quite interesting that anybody ever thought of ever selling that first beautiful edifice and job done by General Yakubu Gowon.
“I think like the National Stadium in Surulere, the federal secretariat in Ikoyi that has been left to rot, common sense should prevail in Nigeria that what we spent so much to build can still contribute to the beauty of the country.
“I thank God that the Minister for Sports has decided to do something about the National Stadium in Surulere. The Minister of Culture should take a cue from that. Luckily, with COVID-19 they have set up a committee led by Alibaba. The post-COVID-19 committee should be mandated to think about how the national arts theatre can generate good money for the Nigerian nation,”
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The former Head of Department, Hospitality, described the Iganmu edifice as a beautiful place with several venues for events, adding that the Arts Theatre and other national monuments could be preserved for the nation’s common good and the future and be put to standard use continuously to yield money into the pocket of Nigeria.
Speaking in the same vein, Michael Balogun, CEO, Tour2naija and local tour operator to different destinations said, “I pray they do so for other landmarks like the Badagry Slave Museums, other museums and the rest to work for the good of Nigerians.
He added: “I think it’s a right step for even the handling over to the bank. The bank stands a lot to lose if they fail in this. I am up for anything that brings value to our domestic tourism and creates employment”.
Conversely, Rilwan Saaka, Lead Faculty, Lagos Aviation Academy, said the handling of the national monument to CBN was not the best option open to the government, adding that leaders in the country most time falter in their decision of entrusting such to non-practitioners.
According to the CBN boss, the National Arts Centre will be comparable to other world-class entertainment and convention centres in any part of the world. He said the activities in the centre which would include music, movies, fashion and ICT, could be a very important source of growth and reduce the dependence on revenues from crude oil.
The National Arts Theatre is the primary centre for the performing arts in Nigeria. Its construction was completed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977. The collection of the National Gallery of Modern Nigerian Art is housed in a section of this building.
Its construction was started by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon and completed during the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. Its exterior is shaped like a military hat. It has a 5,000-seater Main Hall with a collapsible stage and two capacity cinema halls, all of which are equipped with facilities for simultaneous translation of eight languages; among others.
The National Arts Theatre was designed and constructed by the Bulgarian Construction Company (Techno Exporstroy) and it resembles the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria (completed in 1968). The National Arts Theatre, Lagos, is the bigger of the two.
In 2010, President Olusegun Obasanjo announced plans to privatise the National Arts Theatre. This sparked controversy amongst Nigerian entertainers and other stakeholders.
In Nigeria, there about 65 declared national monuments that include Chief Odo Nwokolo’s Palace at Ukehe, Enugu State, Gidan Madaki in Kafin Madaki, Bauchi State, Dutsen Damisa Rock Painting near Gumje, Bauchi State, Benin City Walls, Benin, Edo State, Afa Ogu Tumulus, near the palace of the Attah of Idah, Kabba, Kogi State and Old Consulate, Calabar, Cross River State.
Others are Habe Mosque at Maigana, Kaduna State, Old Secretariat, Marina, Lagos, Lagos State, and Osun Shrine, Osogbo Market shrine, Osun State and others across the six geopolitical zones.
