The Federal Government has renamed the iconic National Theatre, Iganmu as the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Center.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known on Tuesday in Madrid, Spain.
Gistlover reports that the iconic edifice was constructed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) hosted in 1977.
Mohammed is in Spain to sign a bilateral agreement with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on Nigeria’s hosting of the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry.
The minister disclosed that the National Theatre which is under renovation at a cost of 100 million dollars, will host the event which would hold from November 14 to 17, 2022.
Mohammed stated that the renovation of the edifice is done under a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee/Central Bank of Nigeria.
The minister added that the edifice will be hosting the global conference upon completion later in the year, adding that the signing of the agreement shows Nigeria’s commitment to hosting the event.
“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,’’ he said.
Mohammed, therefore, directed that the contractors handling the reconstruction project must ensure its prompt delivery for the global event.
The minister added that in an effort to ensure that the complex is ready for hosting in November, he recently undertook an inspection tour of ongoing work there with stakeholders.
According to the minister, there was every indication that the venue will be ready early enough to host the global conference.
