NAN-ELS-2
Theatre
By Cecilia Odey
Abuja, Aug. 20, 2017 (NAN) Mr Greg Odutayo, a former President of the National Association of Nigeria Theatre Acts Practitioners (NANTAP), has called on state governments to emulate Lagos State in supporting practitioners to develop the sector.
Odutayo made the call on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He commended Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State for being the only governor that had so far paid attention to theatre practitioners in the country.
According to him, other governors should emulate Ambode and support the development of the sector.
Odutayo said that theatre had been on an upward swing in the state and the year had been profitable for practitioners as staging of shows had been on the increase.
He said that previously, activities in the sector were on the lowest level because residents did not have the opportunity of watching stage performances.
“Many centres are opening up, including the Freedom Park and the Multipurpose Theatre Centre, while the government has succeeded in renovating the National Arts Theatre,’’ he said.
Odutayo said that this was an indication that the future of theatre practitioners in the country was bright, especially if other states joined Lagos State to support the development. (NAN)
COO/AO/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf