Amanze Chinonye
President Tinubu on Wednesday unveiled the refurbished National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, rededicated as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, after a four-year restoration project funded by the Bankers’ Committee at a cost of ₦68 billion.
The renaming of the iconic facility, originally announced by Tinubu in July 2024 in honour of Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, was marked by cultural performances and tributes to Nigeria’s creative sector.
Tinubu used the occasion to call for the establishment of an endowment fund to ensure the long-term sustainability of the centre, pledging to personally contribute to the initiative. “We cannot build only for today. We must create a structure that maintains itself for generations,” he said.
Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, explained that the restoration was approved in 2020 and completed under the current administration.
The project, overseen by the Bankers’ Committee, involved comprehensive upgrades to performance halls, cinemas, exhibition galleries, rehearsal rooms, and library facilities, as well as landscaping and integration with the Lagos Blue Line rail system.
READ ALSO: Nigeria@65: AFRIMA Praise Tinubu, CBN For National Arts Theatre Revamp
Tinubu Celebrates Wole Soyinka At 91
The president also used the platform to address broader national issues, insisting that Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable. “Nigeria will not disintegrate under my watch,” he declared, while urging citizens to project a positive image of the country. He assured Nigerians that “the worst is over” for the economy and pledged continued reforms to stabilise growth.
Cultural stakeholders, including the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), commended the restoration, describing it as a bold step in strengthening the nation’s creative economy.
The National Theatre, first commissioned in 1976, had fallen into decades of neglect before the recent intervention. Its rebirth as the Wole Soyinka Centre signals a renewed commitment to positioning arts and culture at the heart of Nigeria’s identity and economic diversification drive at a time when the country is seeking new engines of growth.
Amanze Chinonye is a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria. With a unique voice that blends tradition with modernity, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday Nigerian life, from the bustling markets of Lagos to the quiet villages of the countryside. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
![Worshippers stand inside the Menjar Shenkora Arerti Mariam Church under construction that collapsed in Arerti, Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 [Samuel Getachew/AP Photo]](https://www.primebusiness.africa/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Ethiopian-church-collapse.webp)
