FOR more than three decades, the National Theatre complex has been serving as a veritable ground where creative enterprise is promoted, preserved and exhibited. Over the years, as the theatre culture dwindled with Nigerians preferring home movies to live performance, the theatre mansion seemed to have lost touch with the industry and the edifice deserted with just few stage plays coming up there, during festive periods.The culture of theatre is gradually coming back, but it is the private theatres that are taking the lead in providing entertainment, fun and relaxation for Nigerians far above the National Theatre, which has better facilities.Some have argued that this is because the managers of the theatre are not creative enough and dynamic to move along with new trends to make the National Theatre a vibrant platform for display of stage plays and theatrical offerings.Probably in line with some of the calls by stakeholders that the National Theatre needs private sector investment to optimally reach its potentials and fully serve the purpose for which it was conceptualised, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, last week set up a committee to look at the ways to restructure and restore the National Theatre to a ground for theatric offerings and entertainment.While inaugurating the committee, the Minister, who spoke passionately about the need to restore the National Theatre to compete with other public iconic buildings across the world, said that the National Theatre must be a public building that should be used to define Nigeria.Hear him, 'The National Theatre today remains the most important iconic public building in Nigeria, therefore the rehabilitation and restoration of the complex is a task that must be done. Everywhere in the world, even when you goggle Nigeria, one of the first things that you will see is the image of the National Theatre.'The National Theatre must therefore define Nigeria, not just as an iconic building, but the scared ground for creativity. In the recent past, I have the privilege of travelling with the President and people talk about FESTAC 77, the images of Festac and the fulfillment of Festac 77 continues to resonate in the minds of people, especially those in the Diasporas.'I do not want to go into the history of the National Theatre and the identical sisters in Ethiopia or Bulgaria but it is suffice to say that unless we restore the National Theatre, Nigeria and Nigerians will not get due respect from the creative industry all over the world.'Several people around the world see the National Theatre as the sacred ground for the expression of Africa's rich and diverse culture. So the challenge that is before us today is that the resources of government is very lean, there are also many competing demands on the resources of government and that is why the National Theatre has remained in this state for the better part of three decades.'We find that there are other public buildings especially in Abuja that are less than one decade old and yet, they are receiving resources for their rehabilitation. The National Theatre remains the biggest theatre main bowl in all of Africa. Most especially as we look into 2014, at the celebration of Nigeria centenary, there is no venue that is more appropriate for many of the celebrations than the National Theatre. And for those of you, who have gone round already, we see that water element has taken over virtually all the land that is not what is happening in the International Conference Centre in Durban and so on and so forth.'So it is important for us to come together as responsible Nigerians and government, realizing that government does not have the resources that we are looking for. For us to see the creative and ingenious ways in which we can leverage on the growing interest of the private sector to ensure that the National Theatre, not only regains the glorious days but that we can benefit from investment that for the next two to three decades would be a testimony to the commitment of the men and women in this committee.'Because the institution of government is collaborative, that is why it is appropriate for us and our ministry to bring on board the relevant ministries and departments of government that have the mandate to structure a framework that will be attractive to the private sector to invest money in the National Theatre.'Often times, I know that there are always challenges of government agencies working together but I want to appeal to men and women on this panel, representing these various establishments that history beckons. Nigerians are always very skeptical, apprehensive and even make a mockery of government because often times, we say the right thing but when it is time to deliver or execute, we find that we begin to sing discordant tunes. I want to believe that today will mark a milestone in the effort to restore the National Theatre.'According to Duke, all over the world, Nigerians are spending billions of dollars, enriching the culture and tourism revenue of different parts of the world. This, to him, means that there is a hunger and desire, and the stakeholders must therefore develop venues and destinations which can trap the capital outflow from the nation's economy.'So in inaugurating this committee, I want to appeal that private sector resources, especially international private sector resources, what we call Foreign Direct Investment, is moving in different directions and it will only go to destinations where the environment is conducive, the terms of investment is attractive. If not, such resources will go to other places. We must also bear in mind that we are trying to develop a sector which otherwise has remained moribund in this country. Therefore, let us be professional in what we do, flexible and thorough in what we do.'Duke said in convincing the President, he had made a commitment to the President that within 90 days, 'we should be receiving bids from investors, and already about 30 days have gone. So let us use the best practices globally, and let us look at the unique situation of Nigeria.'Let us understand that if we are able to achieve this objective, we would have recorded a mile stone, not only in the history of PPP, but as it relates to culture and tourism and we would have defined our own individual contributions to the growth of our economy.'There is nothing sacrosanct, let us be creative, if we look at the current existing assumptions and there are needs for us to re-engineer, let us do that because I want a situation where within the next 45 days to 50 days, we begin to receive expression on the National Theatre.'The Minister was optimistic that the National Theatre experience would be a catalyst for the development of similar infrastructure around the country.Speaking before the inauguration of the committee by the minister, the Federal Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, gave an account of how, as a growing up child who stayed in Iganmu, one of the communities bordering the National Theatre, she often sneaked out of the house to watch plays at the National Theatre and the enviable state the National Theatre was then. She lamented the present state describing it as quite disheartening. She said that the setting up of a committee to revitalise and restore the National Theatre is a step in the right direction. Odusote was however happy that the structure has not completely degenerated.Members of the committee were drawn from the Ministries of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Land and Housing, Surveyor General of the Federation and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.
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