Outgoing governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has declared he was fulfilled with the projects executed by his administration in the last four years.
Ambode made the declaration while unveiling another art theatre in Epe, saying the theatre would serve the ancient town and its adjoining communities. The art theatre in Epe is one of the four built by the Ambode’s administration in the effort to promote, art, tourism and culture in Lagos.
Facilities at the theatre include standard furnishing, gallery, artiste changing room, rehearsal hall, restaurant, restrooms, power generating sets and well-laid out car park, among others.
Ambode, who is exiting office on May 29, said it was particularly fulfilling that he was able to implement a number of projects which ‘changed the outlook of the town and made life further comfortable for the people’, as well as improve the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the state.
“We are very delighted that among the art theatres that we have established, we have the opportunity to come and commission the one in Epe. The first one – the Lagos Theatre in Oregun was commissioned by Mr President and then followed by the one in Igando. That of Badagry would be commissioned on Monday (today) making four out of the six that we had actually planned. Two to go and believing strongly that the vision to actually bring out the best of the talents of our younger ones is part of this structure that you are seeing here,” Ambode said on Friday.
He added that the initiative to construct the theatres across the state was borne out of the vision to create a framework to bring out the creativity and innovative skills of talented youths, as well as serving as a platform to scale up communal bonding among the people.
On other initiative in the tourism sector, Governor Ambode said: “We are also renovating Glover Memorial Hall; it’s been fully paid for and in another few months, they should be able to commission it also so that we can have top class tourist attractions in all these locations. People can decide to come and watch a play in Epe and then drive back to Lagos.
“Beyond the fact that we are trying to bring out the talents from the younger ones, the ultimate goal is to increase the GDP of Lagos because in the services provided here and all the other things that would be done in other locations, you have more people that would be earning income; you would have more people that would be paying taxes; you have more people that you can generate income from which you can now use back to improve on the lot of Lagosians,” he said.
Also speaking, veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva, commended Ambode for the theatres, expressing optimism that the next administration would build on the gains recorded in the sector in the last four years.
JOSHUA BASSEY
