Soyinka Accepts National Theatre Renaming

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has accepted the renaming of Nigeria’s National Theatre, Lagos, despite admitting he initially had “mixed feelings” about the honour.
The theatre, now officially known as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, was unveiled on Thursday after extensive renovation.
The 90-year-old playwright said his position shifted because of the scale of restoration work and the importance of preserving the edifice for future generations.
Soyinka revealed that he had always opposed the practice of naming public monuments after individuals, but conceded this time because of what he described as the “remarkable transformation” of the once-dilapidated structure.
He recalled a near-tragedy during a past stage performance when faulty wiring exposed the poor state of the facility.
The renovation, valued at about ₦68 billion, was spearheaded by the Bankers’ Committee in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The project delivered new performance halls, cinemas, exhibition galleries, rehearsal rooms, a literature library, improved access roads, and landscaping.
President Bola Tinubu first announced the renaming in July 2024 to mark Soyinka’s 90th birthday, describing him as one of Nigeria’s greatest cultural and literary icons.
The President also directed the creation of a National Arts Theatre Endowment Fund to ensure the facility remains properly maintained.
Soyinka, who once criticized the building’s “general’s hat” design as lacking African identity, said the recent upgrades have given the theatre a new lease of life.
He urged artists, cultural leaders, and policymakers to use the centre as a hub for creativity, global festivals, and youth engagement.
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts is now expected to serve as a leading platform for Nigeria’s creative industry, blending heritage with modernity while honouring the Nation’s only Nobel Prize winner in Literature.