AS long as the Federal Government continues to play politics with the fate of the National Theatre, the edifice that appears to be currently underutilised in spite of its vast and unique resources will continue to be in the news, albeit negatively.But assurance that all hope is not lost on the Nigeria's symbol of creative enterprise emerged recently during the visit of the Culture and Tourism Minister, Chief Edem Duke with the news that the federal government is now ready to partner with investors not only to turn the fortune of the edifice around but also to reclaim its lost glory and preserve its cultural and artistic heritage.At the heart of the new direction is the desire to reactivate the original master plan of the National Theatre and see how to bring about some of the ancillary facilities (such as hotels and shopping mall) that were supposed to compliment efficient service delivery from the complex, which would have rubbed of on its maintenance mechanism.But the visit, the minister disclosed, was motivated by the call on MDAs and stakeholders to respond to an urgent need for integrity check on the status and quality of Public Buildings across the country.While lamenting the neglect that the theatre edifice has suffered in the last 35 years of its existence, Chief Duke insisted, 'the National Theatre remains the most recognized public building in the country.'He, however, regretted that the complex has not benefitted from adequate financial appropriation in the past few years because of completing demands on government resources.As a result, the minister called on corporate Nigeria, especially international brands to deploy their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) mechanism to the 'rehabilitation and renewal of the National Theatre.'Duke believed that the edifice and its surrounding has huge potentials that investors can harness. According to him, the story of the forthcoming centenary anniversary celebration of Nigeria's amalgamation in 1914 will not be complete without a running and splendid theatre edifice. 'Information available to us indicates that the National Theatre remains the active centre for the growth and sustenance of artistic and cultural expression in the country.'And from the brief interaction with journalists inside the boardroom adjacent to the General Manager's office, the attention later shifted to the facilities surrounding the complex including the Artistes' Village where the minister and his team comprising, GM, Kabir Yusuf; officials of CCECCC, the company that is handling the light rail project of the Lagos State government; and others decried the parlous state of the village, which is directly under the control of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).The slum and filth that compete with cultural and creative production in the village has become an eyesore. The activities of the street urchins popularly known as Area Boys as well as pig farmer have also compromised security and hygienic well being of the vicinity. And the minister was emphatic that 'something drastic would need to be done to restore sanity and conducive environment that will compliment flourishing artistic enterprise in the area.'But Tope Babayemi of Different Aesthics, one of the tenants in the village would not allow such impression of the minister to go unchallenged. He deployed courage and assertiveness to marshal his points, speaking on behalf of all the cultural operatives in the Artistes' Village. And in order not to drag the ensuing conversation endlessly, the minister offered an invitation to the representatives (not more than three) from the Village to be part of the wrap up session that later drew curtain on the visit.Initially, Babayemi appeared to have subscribed to the minister's invitation; there and then, he was already constituting the panel as he called Uncle Lari Williams and another artiste to join him for the interface with the minister. But they eventually boycotted it.And Babayemi would later defend their action thus:'We did not attend the meeting with the Minister because we did not want to be a part of adding legitimacy to bad procedure. The parastatal in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation that has oversight function for the Artists' Village is the NCAC. Fact: The Artists' Village, which is an initiative of the NCAC is the only one of its type in West Africa. Does the Honourable Minister know this' He should, because it belongs to him.'We think it is bad procedure that the Minister was brought into NCAC by the GM of the National Theatre without notifying the NCAC. We think that issue should be addressed. We believe it is in bad faith and bad taste.'Icoordinate creative activities for the NCAC (Lagos) at the Artists' Village and on Saturday, July 28, 2012 when the Minister visited, there was a lot of activity around. Our Minister and his team were not interested in seeing Art, they only saw land and infrastructure. Uncle Lari Williams MFR was around and even spoke to the Minister. The Minister did not acknowledgehis presence even when he spoke up.'The Condolence Register for our recently departed colleague, Ombo Gogo Ombo was in front of the Little Theatre at the time of the visit. No one in the entourage noticed. As creative entrepreneurs, many of us have paid and continue to pay our dues. We feel badly treated by those who have statutory responsibility to protect and promote our work. We did not attend that meeting because we believe the invitation to a 'wrap up meeting' where theagenda was already set and determinedwas pointless and anafterthought.'Also our landlord, the NCAC had not been invited. We did not want to allow power and might to rob us of the nobility of our trade or blur our understanding of due process. We are independent professional arts workers and our immediate loyalty is to the National Council for Arts and Culture.'On security challenge facing the village, Babayemi explained, 'A few years ago, when the NCAC shut the gate in order to secure the Artists' Village, the community in Ijora came and toreour gate down. The GM of the National Theatre knows what we are talking about because when he attempted to close the exit to Ijora, the residents of Jabara who border the National Theatre fence behind us pulled the bricks down repeatedly. The GM of the National Theatre stationed policemen there for days. It didn't work. A resident of the Artists' Village, Victor Eze, an actor and director was personally, physically assaulted by the GM on one of his visits to the spot. Victor Eze had a stroke a few months later and has been in poor health since.'The dirt and squalor at the side of the NCAC Artists Village, Babayemi insisted, 'is neither caused by theNCAC nor the Artists' Village. The original road from the bridge passes by the NCAC but has been submerged by water. The old street-lights and fence posts are there for all to see.It was the submerging of the road that has forced residents of Ijora and environs to pass through NCAC premises. The GM of the NT should not mix issues up because of a hidden agenda.'He claimed that he and other residents 'are responsible for the cleanliness of the Artists Village and I can assure you that by 8a.m. everyday, you will see freshly raked grounds. The NCAC cleaners and gardener compliment our efforts.'However, he expressed frustration concerning the 'dilapidation of the structures that were built in the seventies apart from maintaining them the best we can. It is the responsibility of thosewho govern and manage the Arts to prioritise renovation and refurbishment of an important development such as the NCAC Artists' Village.'To him and his colleagues at the village, the best policy from the Public Sector regarding the Arts Sector in this country in the last few decades is the establishment of the NCAC Artists' Village.Why' He explained: 'It is the only policy that can boast measurable 'trickle down' to the Arts practitioner in this country in terms of Government Spending on the Arts. We all know that majority of Government Spending on the Arts in this country goes on Wages, Salaries and Travel of Government officials. The NCAC should be commended and encouraged and not crucified. The NCAC Artists' Village has turned lives around in the Arts and precipitated a multiplier effect that has not and cannot be matched by any other Government agency in the Arts.'Our prayer is that our Minister will ensure that he has his finger on the pulse of development in the Arts in this country. He shouldnot allow himself to be misled by speculators and charlatans who are pushing the tourism/entertainmentagenda to the detriment of a coherent National Arts strategy. They don't appear to understand the notion that the Arts and Culture drive Tourism and not the other way round. We wish the honourable Minister good luck.'Babayemi was emphatic that the Minister should recognise and acknowledge 'the invaluable contribution of the NCAC to the development of the Arts in Nigeria. The Artists' Village is an excellent example of how Government should deal with the Arts.
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