First Bank of Nigeria has partnered with the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), to promote the creative arts industry in Nigeria, as part of its contribution to supporting the creative arts industry and nurturing local talents.
According to both parties, this strategic collaboration will amplify the event’s outreach and deepen its impact on Nigeria’s vibrant arts community.
The event is scheduled to hold across four prominent venues in Lagos and will run from November 15th to 17th, 2024 at the National Theatre (Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts), Terra Kulture, Muson Centre, and John Randle Centre. The festival will also feature talented artists from the United States, South Africa, Zambia, and Nigeria.
Oluseyi Oyefeso, the Executive Director of Retail Banking at FirstBank, while speaking on the project in Lagos recently, expressed the bank’s excitement about supporting the festival which aligns with FirstBank’s First@Arts Initiative, a platform dedicated to supporting the creative arts value chain across Nigeria.
His words, “As a corporate institution deeply woven into the fabric of society, FirstBank recognises the transformative power of the arts, including theatre, and its ability to inspire the citizenry, ultimately fostering national cohesion. The arts provide a platform for self-expression, cultural exchange, and social commentary.
“Our investment in the Lagos International Theatre Festival reflects our dedication to nurturing talent and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria. This initiative supports the broader creative ecosystem, which is an essential driver of the economy.’’
Bolanle Austen-Peters, the founder of LITF and Terra Kulture, emphasized the festival’s pivotal role in revitalizing Nigerian stage productions.
She said, “With over 22 years in the industry and initiatives like Terra Academy for the Arts that have trained over 26,000 young people, we are using LITF to showcase that stage plays remain a vibrant part of Nigeria’s creative landscape,” she said. Austen-Peters’ longstanding commitment to arts development has made her a trailblazer in showcasing Nigerian culture on both local and global stages.”
She added, “I didn’t initially plan to organize this festival, but after over 22 years with Terra Kulture, where we’ve created jobs and opportunities and trained over 24,000 young people, I felt it was necessary to provide this platform.”
She said the LITF will serve as a platform where creatives in the country can explore, tell our stories, and export our positive philosophies and values to the world. “Attendees can look forward to an array of performances, including musicals, skits, and theatre repertory, reflecting Africa’s diverse cultural heritage.”
Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko also expressed gratitude for FirstBank’s continued support of the arts, commending its contributions to sustaining the industry.
He applauded Austen-Peters’ vision, emphasizing that the LITF is a vital platform for promoting Nigerian art and culture to a broader audience.
The inaugural Lagos International Theatre Festival is organized by Terra Kulture in partnership with the Lagos State government and proudly sponsored by FirstBank.