National Theatre to be renamed by FG

The Federal Government has announced its decision to rename the National Theatre, Iganmu, to Lagos Creative and Entertainment Center.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, publicised this on Tuesday, April 19.

According to source, the Lai was in Spain to sign an agreement for Nigeria to host the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.

The agreement was signed between Nigeria and United Nation World Tourism Organisation at the organisation’s headquarters.

The minister stated that the conference, will hold from November 14 to 17, as the first event to be staged at the newly rebuilt theatre.

He said, “Nigeria will be hosting the event at the National Theatre in Lagos, which is currently being renovated at a cost of 100 million dollars under a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee/Central Bank of Nigeria.

“It is the first of such renovation of the iconic edifice in over four decades.

“In addition to the renovation, new hubs are being constructed, within the premises of the National theatre, for fashion, Information, technology, film and music.

“With that, the National Theatre is now known as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre.

“In addition, the Lagos surface rail system ,to serve the National Theatre ,will be commissioned ahead of the Global Conference.”

The Theatre, was first designed by Bulgarian company, Techno Exporstroy in 1976 for the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture.