In alignment with its First@Arts Initiative, a platform dedicated to supporting the creative arts value chain across Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria is collaborating with the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), to promote the creative arts industry and nurture local talents in Nigeria.
According to both parties, the 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.
Speaking on the project in Lagos recently, Oluseyi Oyefeso, the executive director of Retail Banking at FirstBank, expressed the bank’s excitement about supporting the festival as the financial institution recognises the transformative power of the arts, including theatre, and its ability to inspire the citizenry, ultimately fostering national cohesion.
He said: “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, founder of the LITF and Terra Kulture, shared her commitment to promoting live theater and Nigerian plays, emphasizing the festival’s impact on spotlighting local talent. “Our journey with LITF is about highlighting the vitality of live theater in Nigeria. After promoting world-class productions and training over 26,000 young people through Terra Academy for the Arts, we are proud to champion stage plays with LITF,” she stated.
Reflecting on her more than two decades in the arts industry, Austen-Peters expressed a sense of duty in launching the festival. “With 22 years of experience in creating jobs and opportunities in the arts, I felt it was imperative to lead this initiative,” she said.
Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko, also present at the event, commended FirstBank for its longstanding commitment to the arts in Nigeria, adding that the bank’s support has been instrumental to the industry’s growth.
He applauded Austen-Peters’ vision, emphasizing that the LITF is a vital platform for promoting Nigerian art and culture to a broader audience.
FirstBank’s involvement in the festival is part of its broader First@Arts program, an initiative that has historically supported cultural projects and creative entrepreneurs. For this year’s LITF, audiences can expect a diverse lineup of performances that celebrate themes of identity, resilience, and innovation, blending contemporary and traditional artistic expressions to capture the spirit of Nigerian culture.
The inaugural Lagos International Theatre Festival is organized by Terra Kulture in partnership with the Lagos State government and proudly sponsored by FirstBank.
