By Taiye Olayemi

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called on the Federal Government to designate the renovated National Arts Theatre as official venues for the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027 in Lagos.

Mr Damilare Kuti, NYCN Lagos Mainland Coordinator, in a statement on Monday in Lagos, said making the National Theatre an IATF 2027 venue would relaunch the renovated edifice into national and international prominence.

The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is scheduled to hold in Lagos in 2027.

He also urged the newly elected Lagos Mainland Council Chairman, Mr Jubril Emilagba, to join Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in supporting the campaign to host the event at the National Theatre.

“The National Theatre has all it takes to host the IATF 2027.

“We must all rally support for its successful hosting of the continental expo.

“Hosting IATF 2027 in the National Theatre would help it regain its lost glory as the premium destination for world-class events,” he said.

Also, Deborah Adepoju, NYCN Lagos Mainland Spokesperson, said the council was delighted that Lagos was named host city for the 2027 IATF, organised by AfCFTA and Afreximbank.

“Going by this year’s edition, IATF 2027 is expected to attract over 120,000 visitors to Nigeria and generate more than US$50 billion in trade deals.

“Over 2,100 exhibitors and 20 Heads of State are also expected, underscoring the growing importance of intra-African trade and the creative industries in driving economic growth.

“We believe this would not only boost the economy of Lagos, but also create thousands of temporary and permanent jobs for our teeming youths, as many foreign companies would open shops in Lagos afterwards,” Adepoju said.

Nigeria was named host country for the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, with Lagos as the host city.

The announcement was made during the 2025 edition, which ended last week in Algiers, Algeria.

Now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, the National Theatre has remained largely unused after the completion of its renovation by the Bankers’ Committee since Aug. 28, 2024.

The renovation covered several facilities, including the 4,000-seater main bowl, a 3,000-seater banquet hall, exhibition halls, cinemas and VIP lounges.

It also include actors’ changing rooms, an industrial kitchen, over 300 toilet cubicles, a clinic, fire station, lobbies, and extensive roof repairs.

External works included refurbishment of the three entrance gatehouses, construction of four themed landscapes, a 250-capacity car park block, the ring road, and installation of street lighting and CCTV cameras.

The facility is also complemented by the National Theatre Blue Line train station.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Arts Theatre was originally constructed by the military regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon and completed in 1976 under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Its completion coincided with Nigeria’s hosting of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) in January 1977.

Since its inception in 2018, the IATF has rotated among Africa’s major economies. Egypt hosted the inaugural edition in Cairo, followed by South Africa in Durban in 2021.

Cairo hosted again in 2023, while Algiers staged the fourth edition in 2025.

Nigeria will become the fourth country, and the first in West Africa, to host the fair, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s trade and investment ambitions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa