National Arts Theatre
The National Theatre, Nigeria is the primary centre for the performing arts in Nigeria. The monument is located in Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos. Its construction was completed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977. The National Theatre of Nigeria can be basically described as the NATIONAL HOME OF ENTERTAINMENT. Its management is committed to achieving the objectives for which the National Theatre was established, with regard to the presentation, preservation and promotion of arts and culture in Nigeria. As a partially commercialized Federal Government parastatal, it is determined to broaden its  mandate by becoming more innovative and adventurous in order to become more relevant in the competitive market Design. Construction of The National Theatre was started by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon and completed during the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. By the year 2021, this magnificent edifice had been run by a number of management teams with heads such as Jimmy Folorunso Atte (1991 – August 1999), Prof Babafemi A. Osofisan (2000 – 2004), Dr. Ahmed Parker Yerima (2006 – Aug 2009), Kabir Yusuf (2009 – 2016), George Ufot, (Late) Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Oyedepo, Professor Sunday Enessi Ododo, fsonta, FNAL. The National  Theatre exterior was designed, shaped and built to look like a military hat. It originally has capacity for a 5,000-seater Main Hall with a collapsible stage, and two capacity cinema halls, all of which are equipped with facilities for simultaneous translation of 8 languages; among others. The National Theatre, Nigeria was designed and constructed by Bulgarian construction company (Techno Exporstroy). Alhaji Sule Katagum was a co-owner and also their chairman. It resembles the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria (completed in 1968); the National Theatre Lagos, Nigeria being the bigger of the two. These really loved  tourist centre for culture and performance amongst others is now undergoing a total revamp. Controversy. In 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo announced plans to privatize the National Theatre. This sparked controversy amongst Nigerian entertainers and playwrights like Wole Soyinka On 30 December 2014, it was reported that the National Theatre has been sold to a Dubai-based conglomerate for the sum of $40million, and that the building will be converted to a duty-free shopping mall.