On October 1, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally commissioned the renovated National Theatre in Lagos, unveiling it as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of Nigeria’s literary icon. 

The relaunch aligns with the country’s 65th Independence Day celebrations, marking a symbolic moment for Nigeria’s cultural sector. 

The theatre’s facelift reportedly cost over ₦68 billion, with funding support from the Bankers’ Committee, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos State Government, and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. 

Tinubu, referencing a prior announcement from July 2024, hailed Soyinka as “a living repository of history, knowledge, and courage” and pledged that “no honour is too big” for the Nobel laureate. 

At the inauguration, Tinubu recounted Soyinka’s decades of activism, promoting free speech, democracy, and artistic excellence. He described the new centre as a tribute to a man whose influence transcends generations.  The President also emphasized that the facility will serve as a hub for creative arts, performances, exhibitions, and cultural exchange. 

The building, originally opened in the 1970s ahead of FESTAC 77, had suffered long years of neglect.  With the renovation, the centre now boasts upgraded performance halls, cinema spaces, art galleries, modern audiovisual systems, safety infrastructure, and energy-efficient installations. 

Wole Soyinka, Nigeria’s first Nobel laureate in Literature (1986), has earned global recognition as playwright, novelist, poet, and public intellectual.  Over the years, he has received multiple national and international awards and titles, with the new renaming adding to his enduring legacy. 

The relaunch attracted dignitaries, cultural leaders, and arts enthusiasts who gathered to witness the handover and celebrate the symbolic rebirth of Nigeria’s premier cultural space.  The event underscored a renewed focus on cultural infrastructure and artistic heritage.