Sani Calls on Tinubu to Acknowledge Emefiele, Obasanjo in Arts Theatre Revival

Former Senator Shehu Sani has urged the Federal Government to recognise the contributions of ex-Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the restoration of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu.

Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the Senate, commended the July 2024 renaming of the theatre after Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, but stressed that the efforts of those who rebuilt and revitalised the landmark should not be overlooked.

“The renaming of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts and Creative Arts is commendable,” Sani wrote on X. “Credit should be given to Obasanjo for constructing the edifice for Festac ’77 and to Mr. Godwin Emefiele for mobilising the Bankers Committee to restore it after decades of neglect.”

Speaking during the commissioning of the theatre, President Bola Tinubu said the project’s completion would enhance the promotion of arts, culture, and the creative economy, while recognising Soyinka’s contribution to literature and nation-building.

The National Arts Theatre, built for the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture, has remained a central symbol of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, now revitalised for modern use.