Nigeria’s creative scene witnessed a landmark moment on October 1 as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially inaugurated the newly refurbished National Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, during the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
The event was a grand convergence of Nigeria’s political, financial, and cultural elite, as the curtains rose on an entertainment hub set to reshape the nation’s creative economy.
A vision of cultural renewal
Speaking at the ceremony, President Tinubu underscored the symbolic importance of rechristening the iconic building after Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature.
“You are one of the greatest assets of the world, the continent, and the country,” the President said, addressing Professor Wole Soyinka directly. “It couldn’t have been anything else. So I say it has to be Wole Soyinka Center… This has broken the monotony of military marching parades. Today is an evening well spent.” The President also used the occasion to call on Nigerians to believe in their country and change the narrative about the nation:
“Stop talking about Nigeria in the negative tone. We are a country of proud people. If you had a bad dream, forget it. This country will succeed. Please, lift Nigeria. Believe in Nigeria. Put Nigeria first,” he urged.
He pledged to contribute personally to an endowment fund to ensure the Centre remains vibrant:
“It’s not a bad thing for us to use this opportunity to create jobs, maintenance, accessibility, and commitment. This place will not go derelict again.”
Lagos reclaims creative heartbeat
For Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the reopening marked more than the restoration of a building, it was the revival of a national icon with deep ties to Lagos’ cultural history.
“We gather not only to witness the commissioning of a renovated edifice or to celebrate the rebirth of a national icon,” Sanwo-Olu declared. “This landmark is more than concrete and steel. It is the foundation upon which identity, unity, and progress are built.”
He recalled the theatre’s pivotal role in FESTAC ’77, when Lagos hosted one of the most iconic gatherings of Black and African artists from across the world.
“FESTAC 77 gave us the National Theatre, and the National Theatre in turn gave us FESTAC 77,” he said. “That spirit lives here today.
The Governor noted Lagos State’s contribution to the renovation project, including a dedicated Blue Line Metro stop and additional land to develop a “world-class creative hub” around the Centre.
Public-Private Partnership as a Creative Catalyst
Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso highlighted the project as proof of what can happen when the public and private sectors align behind a shared vision.
“What began as an ambitious vision to reimagine an aging monument as a world-class creative hub has today become a stunning reality,” Cardoso said.
He noted that the Bankers’ Committee committed approximately N68 billion to the project, not merely as corporate social responsibility but as a “deliberate investment in Nigeria’s cultural future.”
“This project stands as proof that when the public and private sectors unite behind a shared national purpose, there is no limit to what Nigeria can achieve,” he added.
Cardoso also lauded President Tinubu’s role in transforming the renovation into a “symbol of national renewal” by directing that the Centre be ready for this Independence Day celebration.
Wole Soyinka’s mixed feelings and lasting legacy
In a moving speech laced with humour and candour, Professor Wole Soyinka reflected on his initial reluctance to have his name attached to a public monument, having often criticized such practices in the past.
“I accepted this honour with mixed feelings,” Soyinka admitted. “I’m notorious for having criticised so many appropriations of public monuments by past leaders. By the time I thought it over again, no, I mustn’t forget… somebody has to carry the can.”
He also recalled the theatre’s decrepit state years earlier and how he once jokingly advised Lagos officials to “plant bombs and blow it up” because it was “irredeemable.”
“These bankers have got together to make me eat my words. If eating one’s words produces a morsel like this, then it’s a very tasty set of words,” he quipped to applause.
Soyinka ended on a heartfelt note, thanking all involved in the project:
“This building owes me… but today, I thank you for doing what I considered impossible. This Centre will inspire generations of artists to follow the example of truth, courage, and creativity.”
A new era for Nigerian creativity
With world-class audio-visual technology, upgraded performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, an African literature library, and seamless integration with the Lagos Blue Line Rail, the Wole Soyinka Centre positions itself as a premier destination for global-standard performances and cultural events.
Mrs. Tola Akerele, the National Theatre’s General Manager/CEO, described the reopening as “a foundation for building a globally competitive creative economy” and emphasized the need for systems and programs to transform the facility into “sustainable opportunity” for young creatives.
“When you build capacity in the creative sector, you create jobs, empower young people, and position Nigeria to compete globally,” she said.
As Nigeria looks to diversify its economy, this revitalized landmark stands as both a tribute to the past and a bold bet on the future, a stage not just for performances, but for a national narrative of resilience, innovation, and cultural pride.
