As I read the post on how National Arts Theatre Rehabilitation will generate about 10,000 jobs, at this point in time i don't know if I should be happy or not. It is a good thing to renovate the National Arts Theatre. Honestly it is really due and the place brings profound childhood memories to me as my late dad usually drives us to the theatre to watch movies and we meet other kids. It was really fun and we look forward to it every week back then, but I am thinking that if the CBN is the one in charge now as it had been handed over to them, is it not as good as been "sold" or transferred to another government agency that is controlled by private individuals who owns private banks and has stakes in the Central bank? If the Federal government is saying they don't have money, where will Central Bank of Nigeria get the money to renovate the National Art Theatre from? I hope people won't loose their jobs as it may become the case of "he who pays the piper dictates the tune". I may be wrong but i am just thinking because i don't know what to believe any more.
I look forward to the actions of both the State and Federal government that will show that they still have interest in tourism. To renovate the National Art Theatre is great, and it will be greater if lasting solutions are implemented to the dwindling tourism setor that has the tendency to feed the country and help stabilize the economy. Many countries in the world don't joke with their tourism potentials but imagine how many tourism practitioners in Nigeria are out of jobs as a result of Covid - 19.
The government of Nigeria (both National and State) has a Master Plan for Tourism Development and untill they follow the Master Plan, the enabling environment that the Tourism practitioners seek may not be achieved.
Tourism is broad and art and culture are branches of tourism. Tourism and hospitality practitioners are the greatest promoters of art and culture in any nation. How can you abandon the root and tender the branches? Between the roots and branches which is more important? For instance, can festivals be planned without the thoughts of visitors, where they will sleep, what they will eat, activities to do and what to see? Within our festivals, heritages or traditiornal events dwells our history, culture and art and all these are auspices of tourism.
Anago Osho