Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that activities around the creative sector provide a unique opportunity to positively change the image of Nigeria globally.

He said this at a briefing to announce the commencement of the Lagos International Theatre Festival slated for November 14 to 17, 2024.

Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos has unique opportunities to launder the image of the country festivals like the Lagos International Theatre Festival.

The governor added that the commitment of the Lagos State government and theatre practitioners to the success of the festival is a further demonstration of the can-do spirit of Nigerians.

Sanwo-Olu underscored the need to have a calendar of festivals so that people can look up to and plan for them.

He further said that November to December would continually be for the entertainment in the state.

Sanwo-Olu enjoined the practitioners to keep pushing and not give up on taking theatre and the creative sector to higher heights.

On her part, the team lead of those promoting the festival, Bolanle Austin-Peter, said she is excited that the world is going to come to see the beauty of Nigerian performances on stage.

She emphasized the power of the theatre to create jobs, noting the developmental role the arts play in the development of the personality of a person.

Austin-Peter was optimistic that the festival would start taking place at the Wole Soyinka Theatre from next year, which the governor reechoed, pledging commitment to see it happen.

She thanked the governor for the support as it would go a long way to make it a success.

The Chairman of Channels TV, Dr John Momoh, also thanked the governor for supporting the project. He was optimistic that the festival would be a fantastic one at the end.

“We need an international theatre festival. We have got the men and women to make this possible because we have the talent.”

A theatre art practitioner, Bimbo Manuel, further commended the governor and state government for helping to revive the theatre sector.