Entertainment

National Theater: The Bankers’ Committee “made me eat my words – Soyinka

President Tinubu stated that there was no controversy surrounding the renaming of the National Theatre, adding that he considered Prof. Soyinka’s contributions to the arts and culture.

Published

1 year ago

October 2, 2025

OCHEFA

656 Views

•From left: First Lady Oluremi Tinubu; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Prof Wole Soyinka and Lagos State Governor Babajide-Sanwo-Olu…yesterday.

Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka says that before the renovation of the National Theatre, located at Iganmu, Lagos, he thought it was irredeemable, but the Bankers’ Committee “made me eat my words.”’

The renovated edifice was renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, by President Bola Tinubu, as parts of events marking Nigeria’s 65th independent anniversary, yesterday.

Soyinka praised the transformation of the building, noting, “If eating one’s word produces a morsel like this, then it’s a very tasty set of words.”

Soyinka emphasized that he accepted the renaming of the National Theatre after him : ” I never believed that the monument could ever be revamped.”

He admitted that he accepted the honour with mixed feelings, despite being a critic of many past leaders, who appropriated public monuments.

“I have to stand up in public and watch my name being put up as yet another appropriator. It just didn’t seem very well for me,” the literary giant said.

The Bankers’ Committee committed N68 billion into the project.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the occasion directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to float a National Arts Theatre Endowment Fund to ensure the maintenance of the national edifice.

Among the prominent persons at the event were First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, who coordinated the Bankers’ Committee, Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, who is a former CBN governor; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.

The Bankers’ Committee committed N68 billion into the project.

President Tinubu said there was no controversy in the National Theatre being renamed, adding that he considered Prof Soyinka’s contributions to the arts and culture. Prof. Wole Soyinka is one of the greatest assets of the world. So, the renaming could not have gone to anyone else,” he said.

President Tinubu stated that there was no controversy surrounding the renaming of the National Theatre, adding that he considered Prof. Soyinka’s contributions to the arts and culture.

Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, disclosed that the Bankers’ Committee, the Lagos State Government, and the Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy came together with a shared purpose to deliver this national project, with the Bankers’ Committee alone committing approximately N68 billion, not as corporate social responsibility but as a deliberate investment in Nigeria’s cultural future.

He said that the project stands as proof that when the public and private sectors unite behind a shared national purpose, there is no limit to what Nigeria can achieve.

The CBN boss stated that 65 years after our nation’s founding, Nigeria’s creative spirit remains alive, pervasive and shaping global culture.

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Entertainment

JUST IN: Another Nollywood Actor, Dies After Brief Illness

Published

2 days ago

October 24, 2026

Charles Flames

29 Views

Veteran Nollywood actor, producer and director Steve Echendu has died after battling an undisclosed illness, adding to a wave of grief currently sweeping through the Nigerian film industry.

The news was announced by his colleague, Wisdom Nwankwo, in a Facebook post in which he expressed deep pain over the loss of two industry figures within five days. Nwankwo also mourned media personality Austinfair Nwaulu, who died days earlier and was buried on Tuesday. He described Echendu as one of the “gladiators” of Nollywood’s formative years and a key figure associated with OJs Production.

“I don’t take chills in doing this, but I am really touched and pained,” Nwankwo wrote. He urged people to check on friends who had been absent from their social media timelines, noting the unpredictability of life. “Just a space of five days, oh Lord, let your will always prevail.”

Echendu was known for his work both in front of and behind the camera. His film credits include Fury (2019), Knockout Blessing (2018) and Infant at Heart (2024). Colleagues remembered him as a dedicated contributor during the period when the Nigerian home-video industry was expanding and consolidating.

His death comes just hours after the industry also lost veteran actor Francis Duru, whose family announced his passing on 23 October 2026 at the age of 57 following a brief illness. The back-to-back losses have left many in Nollywood in shock.

As of Saturday morning, details about Echendu’s exact age, the nature of his illness and burial arrangements had not been made public. Tributes continue to pour in from colleagues and fans across social media.

Entertainment

JUST IN: Nollywood Veteran Francis Duru Dies at 57 After Brief Illness

Published

3 days ago

October 23, 2026

Charles Flames

63 Views

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family confirmed in a statement released on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The family announced the news on Duru’s official Instagram page, writing: “We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness. We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

The confirmation followed a tribute the previous day from Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), who posted: “Another great thespian gone… Rest in peace Francis Duru!!”

Duru rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with his role as Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s 1995 film Rattlesnake. He began his acting career in 1989 and built a decades-long presence in Nollywood, appearing in numerous productions and earning recognition for his versatility. He served as interim president of the AGN in 2010 and received a United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 for his positive influence on youth.

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children. The family had previously lost a son, Ifeanyi, in 2024.

In June 2026, Duru publicly dismissed circulating videos and speculation about his health, assuring fans he was well. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans across the industry.