President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Disun Holloway as Chairman of Theatre Partners, the body now charged with managing and revitalising the iconic National Theatre, Lagos, recently renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.
Mr. Holloway, a seasoned administrator and former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs, brings to the role decades of experience in culture, governance, and the creative economy. Widely respected for his advocacy for the arts, Holloway has consistently supported initiatives that blend cultural preservation with economic opportunity.
His appointment comes at a pivotal moment in the National Theatre’s storied history. The landmark facility, once Nigeria’s premier hub for the performing arts, has just emerged from a N68 billion transformation project led by the Bankers’ Committee under the guidance of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Initially projected to last nine months, the renovation extended over six years due to an underestimation of structural challenges and delays from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now fully rejuvenated, the National Theatre is poised to reclaim its place as a central destination for cultural exchange, artistic excellence, and creative enterprise.
As Chairman of Theatre Partners, Mr. Holloway is expected to spearhead the sustainable management of the facility, working in collaboration with government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and players in the creative industries. His leadership will be central to fully activating the Theatre’s potential as a hub for innovation, economic growth, and Nigeria’s cultural renaissance
