By McPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

LAGOS – Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has appealed to the Federal Government  to designate the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, as a national monument.

Duke made the appeal in Lagos, during a facility tour of the National Theatre, Centre for Black African Art and Civilisation, CBAAC, the  National Troupe and all parastatals under the ministry.

He said: “The culture house represents one of the most identifiable national symbols about Nigeria at home and abroad.  I want to state that as a matter of urgency,  the National Theatre should be adopted as a national monument.

“The image of the National Theatre, the Mother Idia Mask that it wears, have all come to represent the most recognisable images about Nigeria.”

The minister was shocked  at the dilapidated state of the nation’s culture symbol,  despite the huge money being invested in rehabilitating it  by the present leadership of the parastatal’s General Manager, Malam Yusufu Kabir.

Kabir also appealed to the government to rescue the dying parastatal.