Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says the handover and revitalisation of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, fits the vision of the state to become a 21st-century hub of commerce, trade and tourism.
Sanwo-Olu said this on Sunday during the handover ceremony of the National Arts Theatre by the Federal Government to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee for revamping and regeneration.
The governor said, ”There is no way we will make a 21st-century economy if this entire massive real estate and land that we have are not turned from a dead asset to a living asset.
”It fits with our vision, it fits with our plan, it fits with our thinking of our new Lagos.”
He said the journey of regenerating the National Theatre started about 10 months ago and people misconstrued what the objectives and plans were, adding that the purpose was not to send people out of job but to create more jobs and boost the economy.
He said, ”It is exactly 410 days that I got sworn-in as governor of Lagos State and so we are counting.
”We have agreed and said that in a maximum of 22 months, we will be bringing the president here, to walk him round the new, reformed, revitalised National Arts Theatre and all of the adjoining buildings. There is no better joy for me personally than that.
”Lagos is a signature, Lagos is a centerpiece. We have had good times in the National Theatre and it is time to revitalise it.
”I think it will be a shame on all of us, if we are not doing what we are doing today. If people can think about 40 to 45 years ago and put this edifice here, the least we can do is what we are doing here today, to turn it around, to make it happen for another 40 years of people that are going to come behind us.
”With the regeneration of the National Theatre and its environs, we are writing our tomorrow today.”
