The General Manager of National Theatre, Professor Sunday Ododo has said that over 16,000 jobs would be created during and after the ongoing renovation of the National Theatre is completed.
Ododo revealed that most of the jobs would emanate from the fields of movies, music, fashion and information technology.
He said: “Some of the jobs will be direct. Others will be indirect. The National Theatre will definitely be a hub for lots of activities.”
Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Government signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for the renovation of the complex.
Under the MOU, the CBN, through the Bankers Committee, will invest N21.894 billion to renovate the National Theatre, and manage it profitably.
At the signing of the MOU, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said revamping the complex would spring up a lot of creative talents of thousands of Nigerian youths in different fields.
Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who signed on behalf of the Federal Government, also said that the Private-Public-Partnership arrangement would induce growth in many sectors of the economy.
While assessing the progress of the project, Ododo said that work had started as the contractors have fully mobilised to site.
He said he was super excited at the prospects of many youths getting jobs at all stages of the renovation.
He said: “The jobs will come directly and indirectly through the ongoing radical restoration, revamping and renovation of the edifice. When completed, the complex, which is 44 years old, will be a huge business centre.
“It will be the place to be. Food sellers and other petty businesses will not be left out. Those coming for events will be served.
“Administration after administrations have ensured the edifice stands. And I must salute our predecessors; I give them kudos. If not for their dedication and efforts, National Theatre would have collapsed long ago.
“It is capital intensive to maintain. So you can now imagine if a huge sum of 21.8 billion naira is being invested to restore the complex.
“If, for instance, we had a maintenance support of a billion naira or even half a billion annually, we will not get to this point where so much is required to fix the edifice.
“That is why we are glad to inform Nigerians that with the new arrangement, there’s a component that says that once the work is finished, a company will be engaged to maintain the facility every day for the next five years.
“If its work is good, it will be re-engaged; if otherwise, another company will be brought on board.
“So, maintenance is part of the new arrangement so that we don’t go back to Egypt.”
Ododo expressed regret that hospitality firms had taken over the business of the centre.
According to him, these hospitality firms make mega profits that could have been realised by National Theatre.
He said: “When the National Theatre is up and running, some of these event centres will have to be more creative to be in business.
“We don’t want to send anybody out of business, though, but our own prime target is international businesses because we have facilities that can host international events which many of these event centres don’t have.
“We will be making available a media centre that can take care of multi-language interpretation and all that.
“We have a 5,000-capacity main bowl. That one can take any UN event, any World Bank event, and any international event. National theatre will be the centre to beat.”
