The afternoon air was filled with excitement as visitors streamed into the complex, their faces glowing with anticipation. The freshly cut lawns sparkled under the sun, while gentle winds rustled through the trees, carrying an air of celebration. Security operatives were on high alert, ensuring order as the crowd surged toward the main entrance. It was more than an event; it was a moment that blended nostalgia, pride, and renewal.
Even Abeigi, the famous hangout spot within the complex, was briefly sealed off to control access. Guests went through strict accreditation as the gate closed promptly at 4:00 p.m. Inside, Dr Henry Nzekwu and Eugenia Abu, the event hosts, carried the audience effortlessly through a well-orchestrated ceremony that matched the grandeur of the moment.
It was a gathering of the nation’s finest. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu led the roll call of dignitaries, joined by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, and several other high-profile guests.
The reopening and rededication of the newly christened Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts was more than just a ceremonial event. It symbolised a national rebirth and a renewed commitment to cultural preservation. Stakeholders in the arts community described it as a major step in revitalising Nigeria’s cultural and economic landscape.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the project as the heart of Nigeria’s development journey and a tribute to the nation’s creative soul. “It was here that we showed what was possible when culture led the way, when art became the language of unity. That same spirit lives here today,” he said.
He thanked the president for attending the reopening on the nation’s Independence Day and noted that the state’s partnership in the project was a matter of pride. The governor highlighted the Blue Line Metro connection to the theatre, symbolising Lagos’ role in shaping Nigeria’s creative future.
He also recalled the symbolic meaning of hosting the president in Lagos, the same city where the Union Jack was lowered and Nigeria’s Green-White-Green flag was hoisted for the first time in 1960. He acknowledged that despite the building’s past neglect, the collaborative effort between the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bankers’ Committee, and Lagos State had restored it to its former glory.
Paying tribute to Professor Wole Soyinka, the governor said the renaming of the theatre in his honour was a fitting recognition for his lifelong contribution to literature and the arts. “His works are proof of our beloved city’s enduring inspiration,” he said.
In his response, Professor Soyinka accepted the gesture with humility and humour. “I have been guilty of saying other people do not merit this kind of monumental dedication, and then I had to stand up in public and watch my name being put up as yet another appropriator,” he said. With characteristic wit, he added that only a fraction of such dedications were truly deserved but concluded that “somebody has to carry the can.”
Reflecting on the theatre’s transformation, Soyinka admitted he once thought the structure was beyond repair. However, he praised the Bankers’ Committee for proving him wrong, calling the renovated centre “a morsel worth eating my words for.”
Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso said the project was a shared effort among the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee, Lagos State, and the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy. He emphasised that beyond economic potential, the restoration represented an investment in Nigeria’s identity, pride, and youth.
Standing tall beside the Second Mainland Bridge, the seven-storey structure remains one of Lagos’ most iconic landmarks. Known for its distinctive design, once nicknamed “Fila Gowon,” the edifice has witnessed decades of Nigeria’s cultural evolution, from the glory of FESTAC ’77 to years of neglect, and now, to a powerful rebirth.
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts stands today not just as a restored building, but as a renewed promise. A promise that Nigeria’s creative energy will always find a home, and that the heartbeat of its culture will never fade.
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