From establishment period till date, The National Theatre Nigeria has been managed by a number of successive administrators. Now, since January 12, 2024, a new General Manager/CEO assumed the headship of the National Theatre Management with a new vision. Listed below, however, gives a flashback overview of the past leadership of this organization.
Please Click here to see the current GM/CEO
Past Substantive Leadership of National Theatre (GM/CEO, DG/CEO, AD/CEO, Federal Directorate, Sole Administrator)
Prof Sunday Enessi Ododo
As GM/CEO, adequate attention was being given to programming other than just venue rentage for events. (click social links below or check ododotech.com.ng for more)
Late Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Oyedepo
She was a Nigerian playwright. She wrote over 300 plays over the course of her career. Oyedepo's origins are from Ondo State. She trained as a linguist, and for some time in the 1980s she served as Senior Principal Lecturer at the Kwara State College for Education in Ilorin. She has also served as Director of the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture.
Comrade Tar Ukoh
Artistic Director of National Theatre & National Troupe for the named period.
Kabir Yusuf
Mr. Kabir Yusuf is an accomplished Journalist/Broadcaster, an administrator and a renowned labour union leader. He attended various institutions including the London International Film College...
Dr. Ahmed Parker Yerima
Professor P. Yerima is a professor of Theatre Arts, a prolific writer, actor, Lecturer and a creative administrator.
Prof Babafemi A. Osofisan
Professor Babafemi A. Osofisan is a distinguished Professor of Theatre Arts, an alumnus of University of Ibadan, Dakar and Paris (Sorbonne). He is a renowned author, ..., an intellectual of international repute.
Jimmy Folorunso Atte (late)
Late Mr Jimmy F. Atte was the first GM/CEO of the National Theatre... Layed a very solid foundation for the take off of the National Theatre as a new parastatal, and accorded the complex a prominent visibility through programmes and publicity. His tenure went by a popular slogan, ‘’the venue makes the event’’.
Frank Aig-Imoukhuede
He graduated from the Premier University, University of Ibadan with a B.A. (Honours) English in 1961. He is a man of many parts and served in various capacities as well as Director, National Council for Arts and Culture
Colonel Tunde Ainukhatemon Akogun
Graduate of History & Political Science, B. A. (Honours), 1965, from the premier university, University of Ibadan. He served in various capacities in the Nigerian military. While he was the Sole Administrator of Culture he supervised the operations of the National Theatre and many other Federal cultural institutions
Late Dr Garba Ashiwaju
...Late Dr Garba Ashiwaju was a scholar, graduate of History with a PhD from Leipzig University, in Germany. He was the pioneer Federal Director of Culture and Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Magazine from 1973 - 1985. At the time, the Federal Government entrusted the administration of the National Theatre complex into his care.
Past Acting Leadership
Sunday Baba
Served as of Ag.GM/CEO the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos
George Ufot
GM/CEO of National Theatre for the named period.
Engr. N. Nwosu
GM/CEO of National Theatre for the named period.
Bitrus Jatau Piyo
Obtained a post graduate Diploma in Peace studies, 1981, from University of Bradford, England and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Enugu State University of Technology. Served twice in acting capacity as GM/CEO of the National Theatre