Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has asked the Federal Government to recognise former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele for their roles in the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu.
The government had in July 2024 renamed the edifice after Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.
Sani, in a post on X, said Obasanjo built the structure for FESTAC ’77, while Emefiele mobilised the Bankers’ Committee to fund its rehabilitation.
“The renaming of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu to The Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts and creative Arts is commendable,” he wrote.
“Credit should be given to Obasanjo for building the edifice for the Festac 77 and appreciation to Mr Godwin Emefiele for mobilising the Bankers committee to renovate it back to life after decades of neglect,” the former Kaduna lawmaker added.
At the commissioning, President Bola Tinubu said the refurbished theatre would drive arts, culture and the creative economy.
He added that renaming the centre was a tribute to Soyinka’s contribution to literature, freedom and nation-building.