Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Cross Rivers State Governor, Donald Duke, and the Chairman, Channels Television, Dr John Mommoh, have urged for the revival of the theatre industry in Nigeria, saying that doing this would afford many opportunities for the youths and also boost the nation’s economy.
Sanwo-Olu, Duke, and Mommoh stated this at a press briefing to usher in Lagos International Theater Festival which holds between November 14th and 17th 2024.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while expressing this view, noted that his administration focused on shoring the entertainment and creative industry because it was a unique opportunity for Nigeria to launder her positive image if she got it right in that sector.
The governor stressed that the creative industry would sell Nigeria to the world, urging the senior actors in the industry like Joke Silva, Bimbo Emmanuel, among others not to give up, and should help mentor the upcoming actors.
Mommoh, who is the chairman of the Planning Committee, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for making the Lagos International Theater Festival a reality, noting that the country can only be rescued by creative arts, even as he stressed that, Nigerian men and women would make the festival a success.
According to him, Nigeria can boast of good hands in the industry, saying that what they needed was necessary assistance.
“i believe we’ve got men and women that made this possible, Nigeria is not short of people, all what we needed is give us the support, give us the necessary assistance. Nigeria can only be rescued by creative arts. Where the trigger start is Nigeria,” he said.
Former Governor Duke, in his remark, said cosmopolitan states like Lagos needed a leadership that is exposed, noting that Nigeria had the largest film industry in the world.
According to him, by embarking on the International Theater Festival, Nigeria will be celebrating their own work and, therefore, commended all at the event for embracing the work of Bolanle Austin-Peters, while urging for more encouragement for the endeavor.
“We have the largest film industry in the world, now we are going to be celebrating our work. I commend all of you for embracing the work of Bolanle Austin-Peters.
“I want you to encourage this endeavor, this shows the cosmopolitan nature of your state. The more people we can get to work shows the credibility of your work,” Duke stated.
Speaking earlier, Austin-Peters said she was initially reluctant to take up the assignment but was motivated by the fact that it would create job opportunities for 24,000 young people, promising to make the festival an interesting episode.
“I was motivated by the fact that it creates job opportunities for 24,000 young people, that is why I embarked on the festival. The International Theater Festival will start in the National Arts Theater, we are going to make it interesting.We have taken plays to Dubai, South Africa, the opportunity is much,” she said.
Speaking earlier, Emmanuel said theater industry died in Lagos because there was no government policy to support it, but quickly noted that it can still die if it was not committed to things that can give it life in terms of government policy.
Emmanuel, however, commended the Lagos State government for the steps it had taken so far to revive the theater industry, saying that such would bring food to people’s tables as, according to him, 35 distinguished professions benefited from the theater industry, with each profession contributing its quota to the development of the industry.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
